The Washington Nationals and New York Mets begin a three-game set in the Big Apple on Tuesday night.
The Nats are in full-on rebuilding mode after jettisoning most of their best players at the trade deadline and MLB betting lines have them installed as +210 road underdogs for today's contest at Citi Field.
Here are our best free Nationals vs. Mets picks and predictions for Tuesday, August 10, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
Nationals vs Mets game info
• Location: Citi Field, New York City, NY
• Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2021
• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• TV: MASN, SNY
Nationals vs Mets odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Nationals vs Mets betting preview
Starting pitchers
Paolo Espino (3-3, 3.66 ERA): Espino has banged around in the minor leagues for most of his career but earned a spot in Washington's rotation this season. In 25 games (including nine starts), the 34-year-old has pitched to a 1.10 WHIP with an opponent batting average of .242.
Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 3.24 ERA): Carrasco has made two starts for the Mets after recovering from a hamstring injury. He has allowed three runs and eight hits in 8 1-3 innings against the Marlins and Reds. The 34-year-old played 11 seasons with Cleveland and pitched to a 2.91 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 68 innings with the Indians last season.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Nationals: Starlin Castro 2B (Out).
Mets: Javier Baez SS (Questionable), Francisco Lindor SS (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Mets are 0-4 in their last four games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Nationals vs. Mets.
Moneyline pick
The Washington Nationals are barely trying anymore and we wouldn't blame star outfielder Juan Soto for wishing he had been sent to greener pastures like Max Scherzer, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber.
The Nats have lost six of their last seven games and will send Paulo Espino to the mound tonight. Espino doesn't have much big league experience but he has pitched to a solid 3.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in nine starts this year.
The Nats had been solid at the dish this season, ranking ninth in the majors with an OPS of .748. Although the loss of Turner and Schwarber hurts, they still have Soto playing at an MVP-caliber level, while slugger Josh Bell has been hitting well since a rough start to the season.
Mets starter Carlos Carrasco has been solid in two starts since returning from the IL, but he can't expect much run support from a lineup that ranks just 27th in the majors with an OPS of .682 at home.
The Mets are one game above .500 and seem intent on trying to win after trading for Javier Baez at the deadline. However, the All-Star left Sunday's game with hip tightness, and New York lost for the seventh time in eight games.
The Mets have simply been too inconsistent and poor at the plate to back them at -240, even against a downward-trending team like the Nationals. Back the Underdogs.
PREDICTION: ML Washington +210
Over/Under pick
The Mets have been the majors' best Under bet at home this season, going 15-33-3 O/U at Citi Field. That's what happens when you have a strong rotation and a lineup that musters just 3.4 runs per game at home. Not only is that number the worst in the majors, but it's also almost half a run lower than the Rangers, who are second-last at 3.88 runs/game.
The Nationals have actually been the best Under team in the majors overall, going 63-45-4 to the Under this year. They plate 4.38 runs per game and that number will likely dip after their recent trades.
Don't expect them to have a whole lot of success against Carrasco, who was a very reliable starter in Cleveland, where he posted an ERA below 3.40 in four of his last five seasons.
With the Under going 5-2-1 in eight meetings between these NL East rivals this season, take the Under tonight.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-112)
Nationals vs Mets betting card
- ML Washington +210
- Under 8.5 (-112)
Picks made on 8/10/2021 at 11 a.m. ET
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