The Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets are set to conclude their interleague series on Wednesday at Citi Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
Baltimore (73-53 SU, 68-58 RL and 68-48-10 O/U) will send right-hander Zach Eflin to the mound. The 30-year-old holds a record of 9-7 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP across 23 starts this season.
On the other hand, New York (65-60 SU, 61-64 RL and 63-58-4 O/U) has left-hander Sean Manaea taking the hill. The 32-year-old boasts a record of 9-5 with a 3.46 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP over his 24 outings.
*This article was drafted prior to Tuesday’s game conclusion.
Baltimore’s Quest for Consistency
The Orioles faced a challenging series opener on Monday, showing resilience but ultimately falling short. For fans, the second half of the season has been a mix of highs and lows, reflected in Baltimore’s 15-15 record since the All-Star break. Can they regain momentum in this crucial matchup?
Baltimore’s offense features standout players like SS Gunnar Henderson (33 HR, .932 OPS and 7.5 WAR), C Adley Rutschman (18 HR, 70 RBI and a .752 OPS), and RF Anthony Santander (36 HR, 80 RBI and an .832 OPS). They currently rank 11th in OBP (.319), 2nd in OPS (.769), and lead the league in home runs with 193. The pitching staff, however, has a 3.95 ERA (13th) and 1.24 WHIP (11th), tallying 1,076 strikeouts (10th).
On Wednesday, Eflin will attempt to guide the Orioles to victory. In his last outing, he allowed just one run on five hits in a six-inning performance against Boston. This season, he is 4-5 with a 4.65 ERA and 1.22 WHIP on the road. Notably, Eflin has not pitched against the Mets since 2022, where he holds a 3-6 record with a 5.45 ERA in 15 career appearances.
Mets’ Day Game Dynamics
The Mets clinched a thrilling victory against the Orioles on Monday, thanks to a walk-off home run by C Francisco Alvarez. With an 8.5-game deficit in the National League East, New York faces a tough road ahead but still has a chance at a Wild Card spot if they maintain their competitive edge.
Leading the Mets are SS Francisco Lindor (24 HR, .803 OPS and a 5.3 WAR), 1B Pete Alonso (27 HR, 69 RBI and a .802 OPS), and LF Brandon Nimmo (18 HR, 71 RBI and a .757 OPS). They currently rank 8th in OBP (.323), 9th in OPS (.742), and 5th in home runs (158). The pitching unit, however, has a 4.12 ERA (18th) and a 1.30 WHIP (21st), with 1,112 strikeouts (5th).
Manaea will take the mound for New York in this afternoon clash. In his last outing against Miami, he allowed three runs on five hits over seven innings. At Citi Field this season, he has a record of 5-3 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 12 starts. Manaea has faced the Orioles twice in his career, with the last meeting occurring in 2021.
Predictions for Orioles vs. Mets Matchup
Betting Trends: The Orioles hold a 36-25 record on the road and are 63-44 when playing without rest this season.
On Wednesday, Eflin is expected to outperform Manaea, leading the Orioles to a series-clinching win. His 3.27 xERA suggests that improvements are on the horizon. Eflin has surrendered only three runs in 19.1 innings this month, striking out 18 while allowing just two walks. He has historically fared well against the Mets, with key players like Lindor (2-for-12), Nimmo (1-for-14 with five strikeouts), and Alonso (4-for-19) struggling against him.
While Manaea has been effective at home, the powerful Orioles lineup poses a significant challenge. Baltimore has excelled against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking second in wRC+, first in SLG, and second in ISO. They are likely to capitalize on any mistakes made by Manaea, potentially causing early exits and putting added pressure on the Mets’ bullpen, which currently ranks 23rd in WHIP.
