The New York Mets struck first in their interleague series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, as rookie Tylor Megill shut down the powerful Jays lineup on the way to a 3-0 victory.
Game 2 of the series could be another low-scoring affair as Hyun-jin Ryu toes the rubber against All-star Taijuan Walker. Do Walker and the Mets have MLB betting value as home underdogs, or will the Jays come through as favorites?
Check out our MLB free picks and predictions for Blue Jays vs. Mets on Saturday, July 2,4 and find out.
Blue Jays vs Mets game info
• Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY
• Date: Saturday, July 24, 2021
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: WPIX, Rogers Sportsnet
Blue Jays vs Mets odds
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Blue Jays vs Mets betting preview
Starting pitchers
Hyun Jin Ryu (9-5, 3.32 ERA): Ryu wasn’t himself for a six-start stretch from June through early July. But the Jays’ ace has bounced back recently, allowing just one run on eight hits over 12 innings of work in his last two starts.
Taijuan Walker (7-3, 2.99 ERA): Walker had a fantastic first half of the season and earned a well-deserved All-star selection. But the right-hander was off his game in his first start coming out the break, allowing six runs on four hits and four walks in just a third of an inning last time out against the lowly Pirates.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Blue Jays: Danny Jansen C (Out), Julian Merryweather RP (Out), A.J. Cole RP (Out), Tyler Chatwood RP (Out), Corey Dickerson OF (Out).
Mets: Jeff McNeil 2B (Questionable), Sean Reid-Foley RP (Out), Corey Oswalt RP (Out), Francisco Lindor SS (Out), Jordan Yamamoto RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Mets are 8-0 in Taijuan Walker’s last eight starts at home. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Mets.
Moneyline pick
Last night’s loss was the third in a row for the Blue Jays, who have fallen 9.5 games behind the Red Sox for the lead in the American League East and 5.5 games out of the second wild-card spot. So, they’ll need to turn things around quickly and they have the right guy on the mound for that.
Hyun-jin Ryu hasn’t been the best version of himself this season but is still pitching to a 3.32 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. That said, his last two solid starts have come against the Rangers and Orioles and now he goes against a Mets team that is averaging seven runs per game over their last six contests.
While Taijuan Walker is coming off his worst start of the season, he is a good candidate to bounce back. The right-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 13 of his 17 starts this season and is limiting opponents to a .201 batting average. He faces a potent Blue Jays lineup, but they have lost seven of their last nine games against teams not named the Texas Rangers.
With Walker being the better overall starter this season, particularly when pitching at Citi Field (more on that in a moment) and the Jays still having to deal with an overworked and shaky bullpen, the value is with the Mets as home underdogs in this one.
PREDICTION: Mets (+110)
Over/Under pick
Right off the bat, seeing a total of 8.0 looks a little too high when you consider the starters on the mound in this matchup.
For starters, even though Ryu hasn’t been at his best at times this season, he is still an effective pitcher, especially when he is locating his fastball. Now, he faces a Mets team that ranks 21st in batting average and 23rd in OPS when it comes to facing lefties.
Meanwhile, Walker has looked almost unhittable at home. He has a 1.75 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and is limiting opponents to a .178 batting average at Citi Field this season. Now, he faces a Jays team that if you take away their recent series with the hapless Rangers, they have plated just 3.33 runs per game over their last nine contests.
Bet on pitching being the story in this one.
PREDICTION: Under 8 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Mets betting card
- Mets ML (+110)
- Under 8 (-110)
Picks made on 7/24/2021 at 1:18 a.m. ET
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