Published Apr 1, 9:46pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 1, 9:46pm ET
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| San Francisco Giants | +109 |
| New York Mets | -120 |
David Peterson has long been a frustrating performer for the Mets. He was a 1st round draft pick in 2017. He's inconsistent with his control, is not a strikeout pitcher, but keeps the ball in the park.
In 2025, he was an All-Star, but ended the season with a 1.4 bWAR, and a 4.22 ERA tossing 168.2 innings, allowing 166 hits, walking 65, and striking out 150.
In his first start of the season against the Pirates, he tossed 5.1 innings, walked 2, struck out 3, allowed 6 hits, and no runs. The Mets won in extra innings.
The Mets fell to 3-3 after their Wednesday afternoon loss to the Cardinals, also in extra innings. Chunks of the lineup are not hitting. Rookie Carson Benge is hitting .158. Marcus Semien is batting .100. Bo Bichette is at .111. Francisco Lindor is hitting .143.
Juan Soto is batting .346 with a .952 OPS. Luis Robert is hitting .316 with a .932 OPS.
Against Giants starter Robbie Ray, Lindor is batting .125, but has a home run. Robert is batting .100, but he also has a home run. Mark Vientos is 2 for 6 with a double. Bichette is 2 for 8 with 2 doubles.
Robbie Ray takes the hill hoping to get the Giants' legs under them for new manager Tony Vitello. They have started slowly losing 4 of 6. It's early and they have significant star power, but they hired a manager with no pro experience and are coming off several seasons of pure mediocrity.
Ray, the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner for the Blue Jays, had injury problems for several years, but rebounded nicely for San Francisco in 2025, making the All-Star team and posting a 2.8 bWAR.
In his first start of 2026 against the Yankees, Ray threw 5.1 innings, allowed 5 hits, 2 earned runs, walked none, and struck out 4.
Harrison Bader and Matt Chapman are both hitting .182 and each has a homer. Patrick Bailey is batting .111. Rafael Devers is at .227.
These are veteran hitters who will eventually right themselves.
Against Peterson, Willy Adames is batting .231 in 13 at-bats with a double. Devers is hitting .313 in 16 at-bats with a double. Jung Hoo Lee is 2 for 5 with 2 singles. Heliot Ramos is hitting .375 with a double. No Giant has ever homered against Peterson.
The Mets have struggled against Ray in the past. It's difficult to tell which Peterson will show up on a given day. New York still seems to be getting its footing after turning over the clubhouse and the lineup. San Francisco is having problems of its own under an inexperienced manager.
Based on Ray having pitched well against the Yankees and being one of the tougher assignments in MLB when he's on, the Giants should take the opener against the Mets.
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Pick
San Francisco Giants +109
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