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Mets vs Braves Odds and Picks – Walker vs Fried (May 17)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated May 17, 2021 · 11:05 AM PDT

Ronald Acuna
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. watches his solo home run in front of Washington Nationals catcher Jonathan Lucroy in the third inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
  • The Atlanta Braves are -150 home favorites over the New York Mets on Monday night at Truist Park
  • Taijuan Walker (3-1, 2.20 ERA) will pitch for the Mets against left-hander Max Fried (1-1, 6.55)
  • A breakdown of the Mets-Braves matchup can be below with a pick

Two National League East rivals meet for the first this season when the New York Mets visit the Atlanta Braves at 7:10 p.m. ET Monday at Truist Park.

Taijuan Walker (3-1, 2.20 ERA) will pitch for the Mets against left-hander Max Fried (1-1, 6.55).

The Mets (18-16) were swept on the road in a three-game weekend series by the Tampa Bay Rays. That came on the heels of a seven-game winning streak.

The Braves (19-21) took two of three from the Brewers over the weekend in Milwaukee and are favored in this game. It was a good bounce back for Atlanta after being swept at home in three games by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Mets vs Braves Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total at DraftKings
New York Mets +128 +1.5 (-175) Over 8 (-104)
Atlanta Braves -150 -1.5 (+140) Under 8 (-118)

Odds as of May 17th.

Walker Shining for Mets

Walker has been a good investment so far for the Mets after being signed to a two-year, $20-million contract as a free agent just after spring training began.

Walker has won his last two starts and three of his last four. In his last outing, he held the Baltimore Orioles to one run in seven innings while allowing four hits and three walks and striking out four.

In each of those last four starts, Walker has pitched at least six innings. He has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts this season.

Walker is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Braves. Both were in 2017 when he was pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Braves vs Walker Career Stats

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Ronald Acuna Jr. 0 0 0 0 0 —
Freddie Freeman 5 2 1 1 1 .400
Marcell Ozuna 4 1 0 0 0 .250
Ozzie Albies 0 0 0 0 0 —
Dansby Swanson 0 0 0 0 0 —
Austin Riley 0 0 0 0 0 —
William Contreras 0 0 0 0 0 —
Ender Inciarte 6 1 0 0 2 .167

The Braves scored 20 runs in the three games in Milwaukee, scoring at least five in each contest. Second baseman Ozzie Albies stretched his streak of reaching base to 19 games.

The Braves are expected to get star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. back in the lineup. He was limited to one pinch-hitting appearance in the series with the Brewers because of an ankle injury.

The Braves are struggling to get production for the heart of the order, though. The Nos. 2, 3 and 4 spots have combined for a .217 batting average this season.

2024 Cy Young Odds Tracker
Read More

Fried Back on Track

Fried has made two strong starts since spending three weeks on the injured list with a strained right hamstring. He has allowed two runs and six hits in 11 innings after going 0-1 with an 11.45 ERA in three starts to begin the season.

Against the Blue Jays in his last outing, Fried gave up only one run and two hits in six innings but wound up with a no-decision.

Fried was well-coifed for that start.

Fried has had success against the Mets in his career. His record is 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 13 games, including eight starts.

In last year’s pandemic shortened season, Fried faced New York twice and was 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

Mets vs Fried Career Stats

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Kevin Pillar 4 1 0 0 0 .250
Francisco Lindor 4 1 1 1 1 .250
Pete Alonso 12 1 1 3 5 .167
Dominic Smith 2 0 0 0 0 .000
Jonathan Villar 5 2 0 0 0 .400
James McCann 1 0 0 0 0 .000
Jose Peraza 5 2 0 1 0 .400
Jake Hager 0 0 0 0 0 —

Fried could be facing a weakened lineup.

Second baseman Jeff McNeil and right fielder Anthony Conforto both sustained hamstring injuries that forced them from Sunday’s game against the Rays. Both are considered day-to-day.

McNeil has reached base in 21 consecutive games in addition to having one of the best bat flips of 2021. Conforto had a 14-game on-base streak snapped during his shortened appearance Sunday.

The Mets have scuffled to score runs in the past week, managing four or less in five of their last seven games.

Unsuccessful Sunday.

The Mets and Braves both lost on Sunday.

The Rays downed the Mets 7-1 behind home runs by Manuel Margot, Willy Adames and Brandon Lowe off Marcus Stroman.

Stroman dropped to 0-4 in his last five starts. He allowed five runs and six hits in six innings as his ERA rose from 2.01 to 2.72.

The Braves lost 10-9 to the Brewers but nearly overcame an 8-0 deficit. Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta struck out eight and allowed two hits over six scoreless innings.

Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam in the Braves’ seven-run seventh inning.

Dansby Swanson hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth off closer Josh Hader to draw the Braves with a run. Hader then struck out William Contreras with two on to end it.

The Braves have won the season series from the Mets each of the last three years, going 31-17 in that span.

Even though the Mets enter this game reeling, they are enticing as an underdog with Walker on the mound.

The Pick: Mets moneyline (+128)

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