New York Mets vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions August 14th 2024

Athletics aim to give Mets more trouble

From Citi Field in New York, we have the Athletics and Mets facing off in an interleague matchup. The forecast for Wednesday’s game calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. SNY will be televising this game, which has a start time of 7:10 PM ET.

The Mets are the heavy favorite on the money line, with odds of -183, while the Athletics come in with a line of +155. Today’s over/under line is sitting at 8.5 runs, and Joey Estes will be starting for the Athletics, while the Mets are going with David Peterson. Oakland is currently on a three-game winning streak, and they are 5th in the AL West. The Mets are 3rd in the NL East with an overall record of 61-58.

Oakland vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Athletics at Mets
• Where: Citi Field New York
• Date: Wednesday, August 14th
• Betting Odds NYM -183 | OAK +155 O/U 8.5

The Athletics Can Win If…

Right-hander Joey Estes gets the start for the Athletics today as he faces the Mets on the road. He has made 15 starts this season and has a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.70. Opponents have hit .248 off Estes this year, and his WHIP is currently 1.20. Estes has turned in one complete game shutout this year and has made five quality starts. Looking back at his most recent outing, Estes finished with a no-decision after giving up two earned runs in five innings of work. He only gave up one homer in that outing. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

For the season, the Athletics are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. They have been a better team at home, averaging 4.4 runs per game, compared to just 3.8 runs per game on the road. As a team, they are batting just .231, which is 20th in the league, and are also near the bottom of the league in terms of on-base percentage and strikeouts.

Over the past seven games, Zack Gelof has been swinging a hot bat for the Athletics, going 9/25 with two homers and four RBIs. He is also on a three-game hitting streak. Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers are also on three-game hitting streaks, with Rooker leading the team with 29 homers and 83 RBIs. Rooker is also batting .293 for the season.

• The Athletics are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Athletics are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Oakland has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Athletics have an average of 4.4 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 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Athletics have averaged 4.4 runs per game on offense

The Mets Can Win If…

Left-hander David Peterson gets the start for the Mets today as he faces the Athletics at home. He has made 12 starts this year and has a record of 6-1 with a 3.34 ERA. Looking at his overall numbers, Peterson has a WHIP of 1.42 and has turned in five quality starts. In his 12 outings, he has allowed a total of six home runs. Coming into the game, Peterson has a record of 4-0 on the road with a 3.01 ERA. At home, his record is 2-1 with a 4.02 ERA. So far, he has pitched well on the road, but the Mets will be looking for him to continue that success at home today.

Francisco Lindor has been red hot at the plate for the Mets, hitting .423 over his last six games, and he comes into today’s game on a seven-game hitting streak. For the season, Lindor is batting .262 with 22 homers and 67 RBIs, which is the best mark on the team. Pete Alonso is also a significant power threat in the lineup, as he is 11th in the league with 25 homers but is batting just .240 for the season.

As a team, the Mets are 6th in home runs and are averaging 4.7 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are 9th in batting average and have the league’s 10th ranked scoring offense.

• The Mets are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mets are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 2-7-1 in their last ten games.
• The Mets have an average of 2.8 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 7th highest combined run projection and 4th highest home run projection. Our lean would be to take the over. As for a winner, we would be leaning toward the Athletics to pick up the win. Looking at today’s starters, Joey Estes is 10th in our projections in strikeouts compared to 2nd for David Peterson.

The Oakland Athletics aren’t heading to the playoffs this year, but their recent performance has shown they can still shake up the postseason race. As they take on the New York Mets in the second game of a three-game interleague series on Wednesday, the Athletics aim to keep proving their mettle against teams with playoff aspirations.

For the Mets, time is running out to solidify their playoff credentials. After a strong run earlier in the summer, their recent slump has put their postseason hopes in jeopardy.

Pitching Matchup: Estes vs. Peterson

On the mound for the Athletics will be right-hander Joey Estes (5-4, 4.70 ERA). Estes has been a reliable arm for Oakland, even though he didn’t factor into the decision in his last start, where he allowed just two runs over five innings against the Chicago White Sox. This will be his first time facing the Mets, a team desperate for a win.

The Mets will counter with left-hander David Peterson (6-1, 3.34 ERA), who has been a bright spot in their rotation. Peterson is coming off a solid outing in which he gave up just one run over five innings in a 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Like Estes, Peterson will be facing his opponent for the first time.

Oakland’s Recent Resurgence

The Athletics have been on a tear since mid-July, posting an American League-best 16-9 record over that span. This surge has seen them surpass their win total from last season, a remarkable achievement considering the team’s 112 losses in 2023.

Shea Langeliers has been a standout performer, notching his second consecutive four-hit game in Tuesday’s 9-4 win over the Mets. Langeliers also drove in four runs, contributing to a victory that exemplified Oakland’s recent form. The A’s have not only been competitive—they’ve been thriving, particularly against teams fighting for playoff positions. Since July 12, they’ve gone 7-5 against a slate of contenders, including the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Langeliers summed up the team’s recent success, saying, “I think it just kind of proves what we’re capable of—the next step’s just being consistent. We’re proving that we can play these playoff-contending teams and be in the game and win the game.”

Mets in Desperation Mode

For the Mets, the situation is more precarious. After climbing into the third wild-card spot in the National League with a 39-21 run from late May through early August, the Mets hit a wall. They were outscored 22-1 in a three-game sweep by the Seattle Mariners last weekend, clearly showing the fatigue of a grueling 10-game, four-city road trip.

Despite a day off on Monday, the Mets struggled again on Tuesday, going 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and losing 9-4 to the Athletics. This marked the 16th time in 24 games since the All-Star break that the Mets scored four runs or fewer, a worrying trend for a team chasing a playoff berth. The loss dropped them two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the race for the final NL wild-card spot.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “It’s time for us to come home and start playing some winning baseball. Good teams find a way. And we will find a way to get in the win column and get on a streak.”

Key Players to Watch

For the Athletics, Shea Langeliers will be a key player to watch, given his recent hot streak. His performance could be pivotal in keeping the A’s competitive against a Mets team that’s fighting for its playoff life.

On the Mets’ side, David Peterson’s consistency will be crucial. As one of the more reliable arms in the Mets’ rotation, his ability to keep the Athletics’ bats in check will be key to New York’s hopes of reversing their recent fortunes.

Historical Context and Final Thoughts

While this series might not have the historical rivalry of others, it carries significant weight for both teams. For the Athletics, it’s about continuing to build momentum and exceed expectations. For the Mets, it’s a critical juncture in a season that once seemed destined for the playoffs but now hangs in the balance.

The Mets need to capitalize on their home-field advantage and find a way to string together wins. Meanwhile, the Athletics will look to play spoiler and continue their impressive late-season surge.

As these two teams meet again on Wednesday, all eyes will be on whether the Athletics can maintain their hot streak and if the Mets can rediscover their winning ways before it’s too late.

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