Cleveland Guardians vs New York Mets Game 2 5/21/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
The Cleveland Guardians are set to face off against the New York Mets in Game 2 of their MLB matchup at Citi Field, NY, on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at 7:10 PM ET. The Guardians’ performance in 2023 can be deduced from their struggles, having lost seven of their previous nine series and failing to win three consecutive games since April 3. They currently rank last in the league in home runs with only 26 and score an average of 3.61 runs per game, placing them 28th in MLB. Their slash line stands at .230/.304/.344 (.248/.321/.408 league average). Over the last seven days and 167 at-bats, Cleveland has hit .240/.301/.365, with four home runs and eight extra-base hits. In their last three games, Joss Naylor has gone 6-for-11 with two home runs, while Myles Straw has recorded 15 at-bats, including two doubles and a triple. The Cleveland Guardians currently hold the third position in the AL Central division.
Taking the mound for the nightcap on Sunday is 27-year-old right-hander Shane Bieber, who owns a 3.20 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 43/13 K/BB ratio in nine starts (56.1 innings pitched) this season. However, Bieber is coming off one of his worst performances in 2023, suffering an 8-3 loss against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, where he allowed six runs (five earned) on 12 hits over 4.2 innings.
So far this year, the Guardians have utilized 140 relievers from their bullpen. These relievers have inherited 49 runners, with 26.5% of them scoring. They have recorded 18 saves but have failed to convert 11 of their 29 save opportunities. The Guardians’ bullpen has a save percentage of 62.1% and has been called upon in 51 save situations. They have accumulated 22 holds, ranking 19th in baseball. The team’s relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 40 times and have made 63 appearances in high-leverage situations.
Defensively, the Cleveland Guardians have recorded 1,187 putouts, 418 assists, and committed 25 errors so far this season. Their fielding percentage is .985, placing them 18th in baseball, and they have turned 31 double plays. In terms of converting balls hit into play into outs, the Guardians have a success rate of 69.2% out of 3,561 innings, ranking them 15th in the league.
- The total went OVER in 13 of Cleveland’s last 18 games when playing NY Mets.
- The total remained UNDER in 9 of Cleveland’s last 13 games on the road.
Cleveland Guardians vs New York Mets Game 2 5/21/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
Following their thrilling 10-9 victory over the Guardians on Friday, the New York Mets extended their winning streak to three games. The Mets previously defeated the formidable Tampa Bay Rays by scores of 8-7 and 3-2, securing a series win at Citi Field. The win marked their first series victory since mid-April, when they won two out of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets currently average 4.35 runs per game and boast a batting line of .241/.323/.389, placing them 19th in MLB. Over the past seven days and 213 at-bats, they have hit .258/.323/.437, tallying ten home runs and eight doubles. Pete Alonso, in particular, has hit four home runs in his last 23 at-bats, while Francisco Alvarez and Brett Baty have each hit two home runs in the past five games. The New York Mets currently hold the third position in the NL East division.
Taking the mound in the nightcap against Cleveland on Sunday will be Justin Verlander. The 40-year-old right-hander has made three starts, pitching 17 innings and holding a record of 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 15/5 K/BB ratio. However, Verlander had a rough outing in an 8-5 home defeat to the Rays on Tuesday, giving up six runs.
The New York Mets have accumulated a team on-base percentage of .323 and a team batting average of .241 this season. They have struck out 347 times (27th in MLB) and recorded 369 hits. With 51 home runs and 192 RBIs, the Mets have a team slugging percentage of .389 and score an average of 4.35 runs per game, ranking 19th in baseball. They have also notched 67 doubles, drawn 163 walks, and scored 200 runs.
The pitching staff of the New York Mets has conceded 216 runs this year, resulting in a team ERA of 4.78 (212 earned runs). They have allowed 63 home runs and given up an average of 4.87 runs per 9 innings, ranking 20th in the league. The Mets’ pitching staff holds a team WHIP of 1.368 and a FIP of 4.95. They have struck out 382 batters while walking 174, resulting in a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 8.60. In total hits allowed, the Mets rank 16th in the league with 372.
- The New York Mets is 5-0 SU in its last five games at home against Cleveland.
- The NY Mets are 5-0 SU in its last five games when playing Cleveland.
Cleveland Guardians vs New York Mets. The MLB pick for this game is the New York Mets. Shane Bieber and Justin Verlander aim to bounce back from their less-than-ideal pitching performances on Tuesday. They will have an opportunity to do so in what could be considered a favorable matchup, as Cleveland and New York have struggled at the plate this season.
Considering the circumstances, the under on the total runs scored would be a reasonable choice for a betting prediction in the Guardians vs. Mets game.
Additionally, given the Mets’ reputation as a more potent offensive team compared to Cleveland, selecting them as the best side bet makes sense. It’s worth noting that Jose Ramirez has succeeded against the Mets’ right-handed veteran Justin Verlander, going 11-for-34 with two home runs against him. At the same time, the current Guardians lineup has a collective 13-for-66 record against Verlander. However, it’s essential to consider that the Guardians have only scored more than three runs in four out of their previous 11 games. Considering these factors, it is likely that Verlander will have a dominant outing, leading to a predicted score of 6-3 in favor of the New York Mets.
MLB Starting Time: 7:10 PM ET
Location: Citi Field, NY
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2023
TV: ESPN
MLB Odds: New York Mets -150
MLB Totals: 7.5
