New York Mets (27-25) vs. Colorado Rockies (22-30)
The Major League Baseball betting action goes on Saturday, May 27, 2023, with the New York Mets taking on the Colorado Rockies in the National League showdown at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, and the first pitch is set for 9:10 PM ET.
New York and Colorado continue a three-game set in Denver, with the Mets winning the opener 5-2. The Mets are firm -189 moneyline favorites for Saturday’s middle game, while the totals sit at 11.0 runs.
The Mets hope to get another quality start from Justin Verlander
The 27-25 New York Mets entered the Rockies series searching for their second straight victory and they got it, winning 5-2 on Friday. Last Thursday, they trounced the Chicago Cubs 10-1 to avoid a sweep in a three-game set at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Mets mustered 15 hits on the night, Jeff McNeil went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Pete Alonso launched the MLB-best 19th home run of the season. It was New York’s sixth victory in eight games.
The Mets are slashing .269/.330/.406 with six home runs and just three extra-base hits in the last seven days and 160 at-bats. Alonso has been outstanding lately, racking up 12 hits, six home runs, and 14 RBI in his last 47 at-bats, while Jeff McNeil is 17-for-48 with four RBI in his last 13 games. The Mets desperately need more from Francisco Lindor, who’s hitting .232/.259/.339 in his last 56 at-bats.
Oppo Polar Bear Pop 🐻❄️ pic.twitter.com/nrVve6ufcV
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 26, 2023
Justin Verlander will toe the rubber Saturday at Coors Field. The 40-year-old right-hander is 2-2 with a 3.60 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 20/5 K/BB ratio in four starts this season. He was brilliant last Sunday, throwing eight innings of a one-run, three-hit ball in a 2-1 home win against the Cleveland Guardians.
Verlander is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five career starts against Colorado but hasn’t met the Rockies since 2018. He owns a sparkling 1.20 ERA in 15 innings of work at Coors Field. The current Rockies are only 16-for-110 with a couple of homers versus Verlander.
The Rockies aim for their second straight series W
The Colorado Rockies improved to 22-29 on the season following Thursday’s 7-6 victory to the Miami Marlins. The Rockies clinched a four-game set at Coors Field while tallying their sixth win in the last 11 games overall. They blew a 6-2 lead in the top of the ninth but found a way to score in the bottom of the ninth thanks to Ezequiel Tovar’s walk-off single. But on Friday they lost to the Mets 5-2 to fall to 22-30.
The Rockies are hitting .266/.344/.397 with three home runs and a whopping 16 extra-base hits in the last seven days and 199 at-bats. The 32-year-old backstop Elias Diaz continues to impress, tallying 15 hits, four doubles, three homers, and eight RBI over his last 42 at-bats, while Jurickson Profar has accounted for 14 hits and seven doubles in his last 11 games and 41 at-bats.
THE KID COMES THROUGH!!! pic.twitter.com/MGdCAvD418
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 25, 2023
Chase Anderson will get the starting call Saturday, and the 35-year-old righty hasn’t been involved in a decision through a couple of starts and relief appearances between Tampa Bay and Colorado this season (15.2 innings pitched). He carries a shiny 1.15 ERA and 0.96 WHIP. Last Monday, Anderson gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks while punching out one through 5.2 innings of work against the Marlins.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
I’m expecting the Mets to win this clash behind Justin Verlander. The Rockies will have a mountain to climb against New York’s ace. Also, the current Mets lineup is 33-for-107 against Chase Anderson. Keep your eyes on Starling Marte, who’s 16-for-37 with a pair of dingers versus Anderson.
The Mets have registered a 111 wRC+ against the right-handed pitchers in the last couple of weeks, whereas the Rockies have posted a 95 wRC+ against the righties in that span. New York has a huge motive in this series, as they surprisingly lost two out of three home games against the Rockies in the first week of May.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Both bullpens have struggled over the last ten days. The Mets have recorded a 4.85 ERA and 6.58 FIP through 29.2 innings of work, and the Rockies have accounted for a 6.63 ERA and 6.15 FIP across 38.0 innings pitched in that span.
Despite those numbers, I’m backing the under, looking for Justin Verlander to shut down the Rocks. The Mets’ offense has been pretty inconsistent all season, though you never know what can happen at Coors Field.