The New York Mets are set to host the Baltimore Orioles, with Juan Soto identified as a prime candidate for a home run. This interleague matchup at Citi Field features two starting pitchers who have struggled recently.
The Orioles will send Shane Baz to the mound, who has a 2-8 record with a 4.18 ERA in 10 road starts. On the Mets' side, Sean Manaea aims to improve after a difficult September, having allowed 16 hits and nine earned runs in 10 2/3 innings. Sportsbooks have listed the Mets as -130 favorites with an over/under of 8.5 total runs.
While the Mets have not met expectations and the Orioles feature former Mets player Pete Alonso, both teams are near the bottom of their respective standings as the season winds down. Juan Soto remains a significant offensive threat for the Mets.
In eight career plate appearances against Baz, Soto is 3-for-5 with a home run and an RBI. Baz heavily relies on his four-seam fastball, which constitutes approximately 34.4 percent of his pitch mix. This season, Soto is batting .294 against fastballs, with 53 hits and 17 home runs. Given this history and statistical advantage, Soto is considered a strong bet to hit a home run in the upcoming game.
Manaea's recent pitching performance makes a wager on the Mets' moneyline less appealing, but Soto's ability at the plate presents a compelling prop bet. The recommended play is for Juan Soto to hit a home run at +320 odds, available on FanDuel.