by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Aug 21, 2021
Game time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: SNY, SportsNet LA
Season-to-date (entering Saturday)
Mets: 60-62 (3rd place, NL East)
Dodgers: 77-46 (2nd place, NL West)
Recent form (entering Saturday)
Mets: 3-7 in last 10
Dodgers: 9-1 in last 10, won 8 straight
Projected lineup
Mets:
Brandon Nimmo (L) CF
Jeff McNeil (L) 2B
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Michael Conforto (L) RF
J.D. Davis (R) 3B
Dominic Smith (L) LF
Jonathan Villar (S) SS
Patrick Mazeika (L) C
Marcus Stroman (R) P
Dodgers:
Trea Turner (R) 2B
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Albert Pujols (R) 1B
AJ Pollock (R) LF
Corey Seager (L) SS
Chris Taylor (R) RF
Will Smith (R) C
Cody Bellinger (L) CF
David Price (L) P
Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Dodgers -210, Mets +175
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Mets - Dodgers preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers will wrap up their four-game series with the New York Mets on Sunday in hopes of remaining the hottest team in the league.
After winning Game 1 on Thursday, the Dodgers rode a stellar 7.2 IP outing from Walker Buehler to a 3-2 victory on Friday. Buehler allowed two runs and had eight strikeouts in the victory, his 13th of the season and the eighth in a row for the Dodgers.
Thanks to the San Francisco Giants losing on Friday to the Oakland Athletics, the Dodgers enter Saturday only 1.5 games behind the Giants for first place in the National League West. It would be premature to think the Giants will get swept (they’ve been the best team in the league almost all year) but if they do, and the Dodgers complete the sweep, they’ll be in first place come Monday.
The Dodgers have once again shown their pitching and defense can take over against inferior opponents. Through two games, the Dodgers offense has only scored seven runs, but have only allowed three. Max Scherzer gets the call for Game 3 on Saturday, and it’s not often the Dodgers will go to the bullpen with that kind of ace on the mound.
While that trade deadline acquisition will once again show why he was coveted, the other one -- Trea Turner -- had another multi-hit game in the lead-off spot going 2-for-4 and carrying that batting average to a stout .322. He’s been a valuable addition whilst dealing with Mookie Betts’ run of injuries. It’s a jealousy of riches for the defending World Series champions.
Making his fourth start in August and only 11th this season is David Price, who has not won since July 4 against the Washington Nationals. Price has started in seven of his last eight appearances and has picked up a no-decision in all of them.
The Mets’ woes continue and the fall from grace since being in first place in the National League East is getting harder. The Mets are now six games back of the Atlanta Braves, who have won seven straight of their own.
But there may be good news on the way, and that Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor could return for the Mets on Sunday. New York’s star-studded infield has not played together yet, but that could be the boost needed for the Mets’ last-ditch effort for a playoff push.
Marcus Stroman will be the pitcher tasked with making this a respectable series. He did well in the series finale against the Giants last Sunday, which resulted in a win. Stroman is 8-12 with a 2.84 ERA, so the objective is pretty much the same: get this man some RBI and help him win.
Betting trends
The Mets are 3-3 as an underdog when Stroman starts.
If the moneyline reaches +175 or more, the Mets are 0-3.
As a favorite of -200 or more, the Dodgers are 34-9.
Prediction
The pressure is on Price to get a quality outing. He doesn’t even need to win, given the performance of the L.A. bullpen as of late. It wouldn’t hurt for Price to get a win. If he gives the Dodgers five solid innings, this should be another win. Dodgers win 5-2.
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
