Published May 24, 6:36pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 24, 6:36pm ET
Shutterstock
Updated May 24, 6:37pm ET
|
|
|---|---|
| New York Mets | -152 |
| Cincinnati Reds | +138 |
Lefty Nick Lodolo was the Reds' 1st round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. He has been a solid performer, particularly in 2025 when he had a 4.7 bWAR. He missed the first five weeks of this season with a blister on his left index finger.
Since he's returned, he's gotten hit hard with a 7.20 ERA in 3 starts. In 15 innings, he's allowed 14 hits and 12 earned runs, walking 9 and striking out 11. He's surrendered 4 homers.
When he's healthy, he has All-Star potential.
The Reds have won 3 of 4 after a long slump that dropped them to .500. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz have 12 homers each. Spencer Steer has 7 homers and a .786 OPS. Nathaniel Lowe has 8 homers and an .887 OPS. Matt McLain is batting .202 with a .635 OPS.
The only member of the Reds who's faced Mets starter Nolan McLean in the regular season is Eugenio Suarez. He's 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Over the course of a week in Washington and Miami, the Mets managed to cancel out all the positives they'd accrued with their sweep of the Tigers and winning 2 of 3 over the Yankees. They split a 4-game series with the Nationals and then got swept by the Marlins, a series in which they could barely get a hit.
They return home to play the Reds, sending Nolan McLean to the mound.
McLean is coming off his worst start of the season. The Nats knocked him around for 6 earned runs and 8 hits, surrendering 2 homers in a loss. Overall, he's been good. In 58 innings, he's allowed 43 hits and 23 earned runs, walking 17 and striking out 69.
The Mets' offense has been pathetic all season. Juan Soto is the only bat who's been consistently productive with a .949 OPS and 10 homers. Mark Vientos has a .665 OPS. Bo Bichette is at .581. Brett Baty at .661. Carson Benge at .642. On and on. This is up and down the roster.
Against Lodolo, Soto is 1 for 3 with a home run. Tyrone Taylor is 2 for 9 with a home run. Marcus Semien is 1 for 3 with a single. Luis Torrens is 1 for 2 with a single.
Ordinarily, the Mets would have the advantage in this game. They're playing at home. Their top starter is taking the hill. Lodolo has not been good so far this season. But New York has found imaginative ways to lose this season and by now, it might be time to accept that this is what they are. It's almost two months into the season and they've been consistently awful.
Cincinnati will take the first game of the series on Memorial Day and it might be time to start a "manager watch" for Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
|
Pick
Cincinnati Reds +138
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
