New York Mets vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

Resurgent Athletics take on slumping Mets

The forecast from New York on Tuesday calls for scattered clouds and temperatures in the mid-80s. The Athletics and Mets will face off at 7:10 PM ET from Citi Field. Oakland is 50-69 overall, and they are 5th in the AL West, while the Mets are 3rd in the NL East with an overall record of 61-57.

New York is the heavy favorite on the money line, with the odds sitting at -173 compared to the Athletics at +140. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and NSPCA will be televising this interleague matchup. Ross Stripling is starting for the Athletics, while the Mets are going with Paul Blackburn.

Oakland vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Athletics at Mets
• Where: Citi Field New York
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds NYM -173 | OAK +140 O/U 8

The Athletics Can Win If…

Ross Stripling gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Mets on the road. He has made 14 starts this year and has a record of 2-11 with a 5.72 ERA. Stripling’s WHIP for the season is 1.49, and opponents are batting .302 off the right-hander this year. In his last outing, Stripling gave up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. He took the loss in that game. Stripling has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings. The right-hander has a home ERA of 8.82 compared to 5.42 on the road.

As a team, the Athletics are averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 26th in the league. They have been slightly better at home, averaging 4.4 runs per contest. Overall, they are the league’s 5th best home run hitting team but are batting just .231 as a team, which is 22nd in the MLB. Oakland’s team on-base percentage is just .302, which is 19th in the league.

Over his last six games, Zack Gelof is hitting .381 with two homers and four RBIs. For the season, Brent Rooker is hitting .291 with a team-leading 29 homers and 83 RBIs. Shea Langeliers is batting just .217 this season but does have 21 homers, which is 2nd on the team.

• The Athletics are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 3-7 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 2.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Athletics are 7-3
• Looking back across the Athletics last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Oakland has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 5.3 runs per game on offense

The Mets Can Win If…

New York is sending Paul Blackburn to the mound today, and he comes into the game with a record of 5-2 and an ERA of 3.86. Blackburn has made 11 starts this year and has turned in six quality starts. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, going six innings and giving up one earned run on five hits. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Blackburn’s ERA on the road is 6.49, compared to 1.51 at home. Overall, he has been much better at home, going 2-0 compared to 3-2 on the road.

Heading into today’s game, the Mets are 6th in the league in home runs and are averaging 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting .249, which is 10th in the league, and are also near the top of the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have been two of the Mets’ top power threats this season, with Alonso’s 25 homers leading the team and Lindor’s 22 long balls coming in as the 2nd most on the team. Lindor is also batting .260 for the season and has gone 10/27 in his last six games.

• The Mets are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mets are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 1-8-1 in their last ten games.
• The Mets have an average of 3.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Mets are 4-6
• Looking back across the Mets last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• New York has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Mets have averaged 3.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Today’s game between the Athletics and Mets has the 3rd highest combined runs projection and 3rd highest home run projection. Our lean would be towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight-up, we have our lean on the Athletics to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, we have Paul Blackburn as the 5th worst strikeout option compared to Ross Stripling (19th).

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The New York Mets are gearing up for a critical three-game series against the Oakland Athletics, a team that has quietly turned its season around. In the spotlight is Paul Blackburn, a right-handed pitcher who started the year with the Athletics before being traded to the Mets. Blackburn is set to face his former team on Tuesday night, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already pivotal matchup.

Blackburn’s Homecoming: A Critical Start for Mets’ Playoff Hopes

Paul Blackburn (5-2, 3.86 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets, making his third start since being acquired from the Athletics in late July. Blackburn, who has shown promise with a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings over two starts for New York, is eager to prove his worth against his former teammates. The Mets, clinging to their playoff hopes, are counting on Blackburn to help them rebound from a disappointing road trip.

“I’ve been on both sides of this, and it’s going to be interesting facing them,” Blackburn said. “But right now, I’m focused on helping the Mets get back on track.”

The Athletics will counter with Ross Stripling (2-11, 5.72 ERA), a pitcher who has struggled this season but has had some success against the Mets in the past. Stripling will be looking to turn his fortunes around as Oakland aims to continue its impressive recent run.

Mets’ Struggles Highlight Importance of Series

The Mets are coming off a brutal series against the Seattle Mariners, where they were outscored 22-1 over three games. Their offense, which had been a strength earlier in the season, has faltered since the All-Star break. The team has scored four or fewer runs in 15 of their last 23 games, leading to a mediocre 12-11 record during that span.

“We’ve been in a tough spot, but we’ve got to get on a good wave as soon as we can,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. “Hopefully, it starts Tuesday and we can ride it for a while.”

The Mets, currently just a half-game behind the Atlanta Braves for the final National League wild-card spot, know that this series against the Athletics is crucial. With the playoff race tightening, every game counts, and the Mets need to regain the form that saw them surge into contention earlier in the summer.

Athletics Surging at the Right Time

On the other side, the Oakland Athletics have been one of the hottest teams in the American League since mid-July. After a difficult start to the season, the Athletics have turned things around, going 15-9 in their last 24 games. This impressive stretch includes series victories against top-tier teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros.

Oakland’s resurgence has been powered by a youthful roster full of energy and confidence. Second baseman Zack Gelof, one of the team’s rising stars, exemplified this with a two-run homer in the first inning of Sunday’s 8-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We’re all on the same page, pulling the same rope,” Gelof said. “Everyone’s doing their job, and we’re having fun doing it.”

The Athletics’ turnaround has not only lifted their spirits but also given them a chance to avoid a 100-loss season, a feat that seemed impossible just a couple of months ago. With 50 wins on the season, the Athletics are just 13 victories away from that milestone.

Key Matchup: A Battle of Pitching and Momentum

Tuesday night’s game will be a test of which team can harness its momentum. The Athletics are riding a wave of success, while the Mets are desperate to reverse their fortunes. For Blackburn, it’s a chance to show his new team that he can be a reliable arm down the stretch, especially against a team he knows well.

The Mets will need their offense to wake up against Stripling, who, despite his struggles, has been tough against them in previous outings. Meanwhile, the Athletics will look to continue their aggressive approach at the plate, which has paid dividends in recent weeks.

With both teams’ seasons hanging in the balance, this series could prove pivotal for the playoff race in the National League and the Athletics’ quest to finish their final season in Oakland on a high note.

Conclusion: A Must-Watch Series with High Stakes

As the Mets and Athletics clash, the stakes couldn’t be higher. For the Mets, it’s about staying alive in the playoff hunt, while the Athletics aim to cap off their season with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Blackburn’s return to face his former team adds an emotional twist, making this a must-watch series for baseball fans.

Will the Mets find their groove and start a new winning streak, or will the Athletics continue their impressive surge? The answers begin to unfold Tuesday night.