Arizona Diamondbacks vs Ny Mets Picks and Predictions August 29th 2024

First pitch for Thursday’s matchup between the Mets and Diamondbacks is set for 3:40 PM ET from Chase Field in Phoenix. The Mets are 69-64 this season, and they are 3rd in the NL East, while the Diamondbacks are 76-57 and 2nd in the NL West.

David Peterson is starting for the Mets, while the Diamondbacks are sending Ryne Nelson to the mound. New York is currently favored on the money line, and the over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs.

Left-hander David Peterson gets the start for the Mets today as he faces the Diamondbacks on the road. He has made 15 starts this year and has a record of 8-1 with a 2.85 ERA. Peterson’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.32. In his last outing, he went 7 1/3 innings, giving up just one earned run and picking up the win. Looking back over his last four starts, Peterson has given up a total of three earned runs. Opponents are batting .230 this year off Peterson, and he has turned in eight quality starts.

Francisco Lindor comes into the game on a nice little hitting streak, and he has been swinging the bat well over his last six games, going 9/27 with two homers and five RBIs. For the season, he is batting .270 with 27 homers and 78 RBIs, which is the best mark on the team. Pete Alonso is also a power threat in the lineup, as he is batting .244 with 28 homers.

As a team, the Mets are averaging 4.8 runs per game and have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are 5th in home runs and have the 7th best team batting average in the league. Their team OPS of .739 is 10th in the MLB.

Ryne Nelson has made 22 starts for the Diamondbacks this season and is coming off a solid outing against the Red Sox, where he picked up the win. In that outing, he went six innings, giving up just two earned runs, and he had seven strikeouts. Nelson’s record for the season is 9-6, and his ERA is 4.29. Looking at his numbers, Nelson has a WHIP of 1.28 and has issued just 2.08 walks per nine innings compared to 7.48 strikeouts. Overall, he has allowed 13 homers this season. One area of concern for Nelson is his home ERA, which is 6.51 compared to 3.97 on the road.

Arizona comes into today’s game as the top-scoring team in the league, averaging 5.4 runs per game. This is a team that has been even better at home, putting up 5.5 runs per contest. Overall, they are 2nd in team batting average and have the league’s top on-base percentage. The Diamondbacks are also among the league leaders in slugging percentage and OPS.

Over his last eight games, Corbin Carroll has gone 9/33 (.273) with four homers and 10 RBIs. This has pushed his season average up to .298. Carroll’s four homers in his last eight games have him 2nd on the team with 30 homers. Heading into today’s game, Jake McCarthy is on a three-game hitting streak, while Carroll is on a seven-game streak.

Corbin Carroll Powers Diamondbacks as They Chase Series Sweep Against Mets

As the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their push for the playoffs, outfielder Corbin Carroll has rediscovered his power swing at just the right moment. After struggling earlier in the season, Carroll’s recent surge has come at the perfect time, much to the frustration of the New York Mets. As the Diamondbacks aim for a series sweep against the Mets on Thursday afternoon in Phoenix, Carroll’s explosive hitting is leading the charge.

Carroll’s Resurgence: A Timely Comeback

Corbin Carroll’s season didn’t begin on the high note many expected, especially after his stellar performance during last year’s National League Rookie of the Year campaign. With only two home runs before July, Carroll’s power was a significant concern for Arizona. However, since July 7, the young star has turned things around dramatically, hitting 15 home runs, including three in the first two games of this series against the Mets.

Carroll’s latest heroics were on full display on Wednesday, where he smashed two home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning off Mets closer Edwin Diaz. This grand slam, which lifted the Diamondbacks to an 8-5 victory, highlighted Carroll’s renewed confidence and ability to deliver in clutch situations.

Reflecting on his approach, Carroll said, “Base hit at least puts us ahead, so I’m not trying to do too much and take the biggest swing in the world. But I happened to catch a pitch toward the middle of the plate, and it went out.”

Carroll’s Early Struggles and Determination

The season didn’t start smoothly for Carroll, who found it challenging to keep his batting average above .200 until June. Despite these struggles, Carroll’s persistence and hard work are starting to pay off. Though his batting average is currently .225, his recent power surge has been crucial for Arizona’s playoff aspirations.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo praised Carroll’s resilience during his slump, stating, “It was a matter of time before he figured it out. It was a little bit of a struggle that led to a loss of confidence. But he’s really come out the other end because of his hard work and determination.”

Diamondbacks’ Playoff Push

With Wednesday’s win, the Diamondbacks have now won seven of their last eight games and 25 of their previous 32, maintaining a one-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the top NL wild-card spot. Carroll’s return to form is a significant boost as Arizona looks to solidify their playoff position.

Mets Struggle in Critical Stretch

On the flip side, the Mets are facing a much tougher path. Wednesday’s blown lead was a significant setback, dropping them four games behind the Atlanta Braves for the NL’s final wild-card spot. Edwin Diaz, who has struggled in recent outings, recorded his sixth blown save of the season. This comes after allowing a walk-off homer in his previous appearance against the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Despite Diaz’s recent struggles, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in him, saying, “He’ll get through it. Two outings obviously, but I’m not concerned. He’ll get right back on the mound, and he’ll be ready to go. He’s been through it before, and he’ll get through it this time again.”

Pitching Matchup: Peterson vs. Nelson

Thursday’s series finale will feature a pitching duel between Mets left-hander David Peterson (8-1, 2.85 ERA) and Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson (9-6, 4.29 ERA). Peterson has been in excellent form, winning his last three decisions and posting a 1.71 ERA in five outings this month. He’s coming off a strong performance against the Padres, where he allowed just one run over 7 1/3 innings.

However, Peterson has struggled against Arizona in the past, with a 6.75 ERA and no decisions in four career starts. He’ll be looking to change that narrative and help the Mets avoid a sweep.

On the other side, Nelson, who has won his last four decisions, has been a key part of Arizona’s rotation. Over his last nine starts, Nelson has posted a 2.84 ERA, consistently delivering quality outings. However, his track record against the Mets is concerning, with an 0-2 record and a 15.95 ERA in two career starts. Notably, Pete Alonso and Jesse Winker have both hit two homers off Nelson, while Francisco Lindor has been a thorn in his side with three hits, including two triples, in four at-bats.

High Stakes in Phoenix

As the Diamondbacks and Mets prepare to face off in the series finale, the stakes are incredibly high for both teams. For Arizona, a win would further solidify their wild-card position and highlight Corbin Carroll’s continued resurgence. For the Mets, avoiding a sweep is crucial as they fight to stay in the playoff race.

With both teams having so much to play for, Thursday’s game promises to be a pivotal moment in their respective seasons.

For an over/under pick, our lean would be on the over, as this is our highest projected scoring game of the day. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Mets to pick up the win. New York comes into this one with the best home run projection in the league, and David Peterson has the 2nd best innings pitched projection among today’s starters. On the other side, Ryne Nelson has the highest earned run average projection among today’s starters.