Nationals vs. Mets Prediction and Pick for February 26, 2023 Game (2/26/2023)

The Washington Nationals and the New York Mets will meet in a Spring Training game on February 26, 2023, at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Florida. This early-season matchup is an excellent opportunity for both teams to evaluate their rosters and prepare for the upcoming season. In this article, we will analyze the two teams and provide our prediction and pick for the game.

Analysis - Washington Nationals:

The Nationals will be sending out Max Scherzer as their starting pitcher for the game. Scherzer is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and is one of the best pitchers in baseball. He had a solid 2022 season, posting a 2.46 ERA and 236 strikeouts in 209 innings pitched. The Nationals will be hoping that Scherzer can get off to a good start in Spring Training and carry that momentum into the regular season.

Offensively, the Nationals will be led by first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, outfielder Juan Soto, and shortstop Trea Turner. Zimmerman is a veteran presence in the lineup, while Soto and Turner are young and talented players who have the potential to be stars in the league. Look for the Nationals to try and jump out to an early lead in this game.

Analysis - New York Mets:

The Mets will counter with Jon Gray, who they acquired in a trade with the Colorado Rockies in the offseason. Gray had a solid 2022 season, posting a 4.03 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 148 innings pitched. The Mets will be hoping that Gray can continue to develop and be a reliable starting pitcher for them in the upcoming season.

Offensively, the Mets will be led by first baseman Pete Alonso, third baseman Brett Baty, and shortstop Francisco Lindor. Alonso is a power hitter who can change the game with one swing of the bat, while Baty and Lindor are highly touted prospects who are expected to have a big impact in the league. Look for the Mets to try and take advantage of the Nationals' pitching staff and score some runs in this game.

Betting Trends:

According to KingPin.pro, the Nationals are currently listed as the favorites with a -140 moneyline, while the Mets are listed as the underdogs with a +120 moneyline. The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs. In terms of the spread, the Nationals are favored by -1.5 runs, while the Mets are the underdogs at +1.5 runs.

Public Betting Data:

The public is currently split on this game, with 50% of bets on the Nationals and 50% of bets on the Mets. This indicates that the betting action is relatively even, and there is no clear consensus on who will win the game.

Prediction:

In this early-season matchup, we expect both teams to be competitive and trying to establish themselves for the upcoming season. However, we believe that Max Scherzer will be too much for the Mets to handle, and the Nationals will come out on top. Look for the Nationals to win by a score of 4-2.

Pick: Nationals ML