Can Mets manhandle Dodgers’ top prospect?
As far as introductions to the bigs go, they probably don’t get more radiant than what Julio Urias will experience tonight.
One of baseball’s most heralded prospects leads the Dodgers into their series opener against the Mets, with a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Citi Field. Handicapper at online sports book Bovada.lv list the hosts as 1.5-run favorites. Los Angeles, meanwhile, represents a +110 underdog. The over/under figure holds steady at seven runs.
After cutting a swath through Class AAA, Urias now stands poised to become the first 19-year-old hurler since Felix Hernandez in 2005 to start an MLB game. He certainly lived up to the hype at Oklahoma City, registering a 4-1 record and 1.10 ERA in eight appearances. Urias even boasted a 27-inning scoreless streak at one point.
Whether this evening cements the righty’s spot in the Dodgers’ rotation or serves as a cameo with the parent club depends on how well he handles New York’s surging batting order. The Mets (29-17) have ripped 10 homers in winning five of six. Third baseman David Wright’s beginning to resemble his old self, too, going yard in back-to-back affairs.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
There’s also the little matter of combating Jacob deGrom (3-1, 3.07 ERA), who basically suffocated Dave Roberts’ bunch across seven frames on May 10. Despite Los Angeles’ (25-23) recent roll, we need to see what it is capable of accomplishing vs. elite squads. Terry Collins’ crew still falls into that category. Perhaps Urias shocks us all and tames the Bronx as a teenager. Odds are, however, he’ll endure some growing pains.
FRIDAY MLB FREE PICK: METS -1.5
Want More Picks, Predictions & Odds From The Spread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!