Can the New York Mets use the trade deadline to make a key pickup to put them over the hump with the Atlanta Braves and on to the NL East title? Or is the return of one of the best arms in baseball to their starting rotation enough?
Those are the questions being asked by fans and folks involved in New York sports betting.
The Mets approach the Tuesday 6 p.m. trade deadline with the second-best record in the National League and among the top four favorites to win the World Series.
The Mets have been a reliable choice in New York MLB betting with a strong record of 64-37 (.634). That is good enough to lead the NL East by three games over the Atlanta Braves. The Mets start a three-game series against the host Washington Nationals (35-68, .340) tonight.
With Max Scherzer starting for the Mets, they are a -255 moneyline favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook New York.
The Nationals are a +210 moneyline underdog.
The over-under is 8.5 runs.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on EmpireStakes.com for more Mets and Yankees updates as well as New York sportsbook promos.
The Return of Jacob deGrom
With two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom scheduled to make his 2022 season debut Tuesday night, a trade might not be needed.
After more than a year away from game action (July 7, 2021, to be exact), deGrom is ready to come back after being sidelined this season as he was rehabbing and working his way back from a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade.
Last season, deGrom had forearm tightness that evolved into an ulnar collateral ligament sprain that kept him out for the remainder of the year.
If deGrom is anywhere near what he once was, it will feel like the Mets landed a top quality pitcher right at the trading deadline, with no trade.
Mets Figure to Keep Trade Options Open
The return of deGrom does not necessarily mean the Mets will be inactive with hours left until tomorrow’s deadline. They could be looking for some more pitching help and another possible bat, perhaps in Chicago Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras. Contreras is being pursued by several teams.
The Mets had been active over the past couple of weeks, bringing in former Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Daniel Vogelbach as well as outfielder Tyler Naquin and pitcher Philip Diehl from the Cincinnati Reds. Naquin posted his first hit, a triple, for the Mets on Sunday.
Here are some of the Mets’ key trading deadline acquisitions over the years:
Updated Future Mets Odds
Caesars Sportsbook New York has the Mets as the fourth favorite at +750 to win the World Series this season, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (+300), New York Yankees (+350) and Houston Astros (+450).
The Mets are the second choice (+300) to take home the National League pennant, just behind the Dodgers at +155 and just ahead of the Braves (+440).
The Mets (-300) also are ahead of the Braves (+240) to win the NL East.
Caesars also has a future betting opportunity on the World Series winning state and New York (+225) is the favorite, leading California (+250), Texas (+450) and any other state (+550).
