Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Best Bet: Can Clayton Kershaw Help the Dodgers Bounce Back?
The Dodgers play the Mets again tonight. Can Clayton Kershaw help the Dodgers bounce back? Ben Rajavuori shares his best bet for the game.
Ben Rajavuori - April 18, 2023, 5:05 PM EDT
6 minLos Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Best Bet: Can Clayton Kershaw Help the Dodgers Bounce Back?
The Dodgers have had a very uncharacteristic start to the 2023 season. The Dodgers have been one of the most dominant teams in baseball in this era of baseball, but an 8-9 start has some scratching their heads. The Dodgers have now dropped three of their last four home games and lost yesterday 6-8 in game one against the Mets. With Kershaw on the mound, the Dodgers are favored to even the series tonight. Can they do it?
Dodgers vs. Mets Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
- Game Time: 10:10 pm ET
- Where to Watch: TBS, MLB.TV
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Prediction
The Dodgers have lost some key bats, like Trea Turner, Justin Turner, and Cody Bellinger (who is having a comeback year on the Cubs). However, they are still a talented lineup and have one of the biggest payrolls in baseball, so to see them below .500 is odd, but I do not expect it to last long. Tonight, with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, is an excellent opportunity to get back to .500.
The Dodgers were tied for the best record at home in baseball last season, going 57-24 at home in 2022. This season, they are just 5-5 at home and have lost three of their last four in Dodger Stadium. Now, they have Kershaw on the mound again.
Kershaw has been the Dodgers ace for what seems like forever. He joined the team in 2008 and has been dominant since. He is even more dominant at home. He is 106-40 with a 2.21 ERA at home in his career with a .97 WHIP. He has dominated the Mets, winning three straight at home against the Mets with a complete game shutout three starts ago against them at home. Kershaw is 10-0 with a 2.17 ERA against the Mets in his career.
On the other side, Tyler Megill gets the start. Megill has had a good start to the 2023 season, with a 2.25 ERA in his first three starts, but two of those three were against the Marlins. Megill is a career 4.47 ERA pitcher and is worse on the road. In his only start against the Dodgers in his career, he gave up three runs in five innings pitched, as the Mets lost that game 5-6 at home.
Dodger Stadium is not an easy place to pitch in, and I expect the Dodgers to get to Megill early. The Mets also have a thin bullpen. Edwin Diaz is out for the season with a knee injury, while three other relievers are on the injured list. The Mets also have used their top guys in two of the last three games, so they may not be available tonight. The Dodgers have a deeper and healthier bullpen.
The Dodgers have looked horrible at the plate to start the season, but they just put up six runs on the Mets in game one, and I expect that to carry over into game two against Megill and a thin bullpen. Kershaw has been one of the winningest home pitchers in the league for years, and he has dominated the Mets in his career. I expect the Dodgers to bounce back strong in game two and get back to .500 on the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Pick
Pick: Dodgers ML (-150) Bet $100 to collect $166 DraftKings has the best odds; click here to bet
MLB Odds
