Mets at Yankees Under 8 1/2 minus $1.20
By Stephen Nover
Under the total is a good way to look in the first game back for teams following All-Star break. Not only have most of the hitters been out of action for four straight days, but bullpens are rested.
I don’t see the Mets and Yankees combining for more than eight runs here in a pitching matchup of Noah Syndergaard versus Domingo German.
Syndergaard is an elite pitcher when healthy, which he is now. He has given up three runs or fewer in 11 consecutive starts. This will be his secong start since returning from a finger injury that sidelined him for more than a month. So he should be able to go deep into the game.
German has been up-and-down. He certainly won’t lack motivation, though, as he’s battling to keep his spot in the Yankees’ starting rotation. One of German’s better performances came against the Mets on June 9. He gave up three runs in six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks.
German can go all out knowing the Yankees’ deep bullpen can take over after five innings if necessary. German is facing a Mets offense that has the second-lowest batting average in the majors and ranks seventh-from-the-bottom in runs. The Mets have scored four runs or less in nine of their last 10 games.
Both teams have a strong recent history of going Under during interleague play. The Under has cashed in eight of the Mets’ last 10 interleague games. The Yankees have gone Under in 12 of their past 13 interleague games.
(If you’re interested in Stephen Nover’s sports service, or in need of a proxy for the Westgate football contest in Las Vegas, please message him.)
