The Mets have struggled so far in 2023, as that massive investment in the roster has only yielded a .500 performance to this point. The starting rotation has come around, as Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have finally started pitching like aces. However, shortstop Francisco Lindor continues to slump. Through 60 games, he has an OPS of .688, which ranks 26th in MLB among the 48 players who have made at least 50 plate appearances as a shortstop. He still has plenty of power, but the contact isn’t there. Last weekend, he went 2 for 22 over a homestand, including eight strikeouts. He isn’t chasing bad pitches, but his strikeout rate is up from 18.8% last year (at that time, a career worst) to 23.4% of plate appearances. He is 6 of 48 over his last 12 games (with three home runs). Is he in a slump? In an interview with the New York Post, Lindor indicated that he can play his way through this tough patch. This week, the Mets head south for a key NL East series against the division-leading Atlanta Braves. Check out our MLB betting picks for each game.
MLB Series Spotlight: N.Y. Mets at Atlanta Braves (June 6-8) | MLB Lines
Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.74 ERA) (NY) vs Bryce Elder (3-0, 1.92 ERA) (ATL)
When: Tuesday, June 6, 7:20 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: TBS
Carlos Carrasco has struggled this season, first with results and then with health, as he was on the shelf from April 15 until May 19. When he went down, he had an unsightly 8.56 ERA that had benefited from a five-inning outing against the punchless Oakland A’s. He got shelled by Cleveland in his return, but since then, he has held the Cubs and the Phillies to just two earned runs over 12 ⅔ innings, striking out eight and walking three. Each of those runs scored on a solo shot, and he has permitted at least one home run in five of his six 2023 starts. He needs to find even less of the plate at this point.
Bryce Elder held his opponent scoreless in four of his first six starts, but he has allowed at least one earned run in five straight outings. Even so, he continues to post quality numbers. In his last start, he led the A’s to a run on five hits over 7 ⅓ innings, striking out five while walking three in a hard-luck 2-1 loss that the bullpen coughed up. Elder has mowed down such impressive lineups as the Cardinals, the Orioles and the Dodgers this season. Braves to win.
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Max Scherzer (5-2, 3.21 ERA) (NY) vs Charlie Morton (5-6, 3.62 ERA) (ATL)
When: Wednesday, June 7, 7:20 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Max Scherzer’s ERA has steadily dropped since it hit 5.56 in Detroit on May 3. In his last two starts, he has held Colorado and Philadelphia to a pair of earned runs over 14 combined innings, allowing 11 hits, striking out 17 while walking just one. The maintenance of that pinpoint control even while his strikeout totals are increasing is just one sign that Scherzer’s ace stuff is back.
Charlie Morton’s numbers haven’t been bad, but the offense hasn’t been giving him a lot of support. In his last two starts, he has allowed five earned runs on 13 hits against the Phillies and Diamondbacks, striking out 18 while walking six. However, the offense has managed a grand total of three runs in those games, both one-run losses. Can Morton hold down the Mets offense while the offense gets to Scherzer? Mets to win.
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Justin Verlander (2-3, 4.25 ERA) (NY) vs Spencer Strider (6-2, 2.97 ERA) (ATL)
When: Thursday, June 8, 7:20 pm ET
Where: SunTrust Park
Live Stream: MLB Network Alt., MLB.tv
It’s been feast or famine for Verlander this season; in his last four starts, he has alternated between five-inning, six-run performances (in losses to Tampa Bay and Colorado) or dominant one-run performances (as in an eight-inning gem against Cleveland and a solid six-inning stint against Toronto on Friday). He’s finding less and less of the plate, but he’s still finding enough to get touched up now and then.
Spencer Strider had a 1.80 ERA for the month of April but has seen his numbers tick up since then. He gave up eight runs combined (six earned) in outings against Texas and the Dodgers in May. In his last two, though, he has limited the opposition to four earned runs on five hits over 12 combined innings in wins over Philadelphia and Arizona. He has 16 strikeouts and five walks over those two outings and has three double-digit strikeout games so far in 2023. Braves to win.
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