Mets vs Dodgers Prediction, Pick and Preview, August 20: MLB

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Preview

The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the New York Mets for the first game of their four-game set this Thursday evening. The Dodgers swept the Mets last week, and they'll look to pick up where they left off.

The Mets are in the midst of an untimely six game skid. Jacob De Grom's absence has led to a crumble within their rotation, and the lineup has struggled to provide support, as they've only eclipsed five runs once all month.

The Dodgers are on a tear right now. Dave Roberts' team has won ten of the last eleven games, and their beginning to lock into postseason form. They outscored the Mets 22-10 in their three-game set last week.

Pitching Matchup

Mets

Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 10.32 ERA) will get the start for the Mets. It's been rough through four starts for the former longtime Indians pitcher. He's failed to make it to the fifth inning in any of his starts, and ironically his last appearance came against the scorching Dodgers. Carrasco only lasted a pair of innings against LAD, giving up six runs in a blink of an eye.

Dodgers

Walker Buehler (12-2, 2.09 ERA) will get the home start for the Dodgers. The Vanderbilt product is having the best of his career, and he leads the NL ERA, and he's tied for third in wins. He's given up no more than one run in each of his past five starts, while throwing eight strikeouts in four of those five appearances. Buehler ran through the Mets in start against them last week, tossing ten strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Prediction

It's a tale of two tapes on the bump tonight. Carrasco naturally looks like a shell of his old self after joining in late July. Buehler dominated the Mets last week, and he'll get to replicate that performance at home this time around. As favored as they will be, the Dodgers won't blow this one. The combination of Buehler and those bats should be too much for the Mets. After a closely contested opening game to this set, this one might get dark early. Bet on the Los Angeles Dodgers run line confidently tonight.

PICK: Dodgers -1.5 (-115)

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