The Cleveland Indians and New York Mets are two of just four teams in the majors that entered Wednesday with at least 24 wins since the All-Star break, and they battle at Citi Field on Thursday with a pair of pitchers who have been solid since.
In four starts for the Indians, Aaron Civale has been significantly better than his 1-2 record would indicate, as he has posted a 1.50 ERA and has yet to give up a home run. He is also backed up by a bullpen that has the best team ERA of any in the big leagues.
Noah Syndergaard has been a bit up and down this year but still has logged 154 innings in 24 starts with an 8-6 record. While that’s well and good, his best work has been in his seven starts since the All-Star break, pitching to a 2.05 ERA and giving up just one home run in 48¹/₃ innings.
Also to Syndergaard’s benefit is a rejuvenated Mets bullpen, which has the seventh-best bullpen ERA in the MLB since the break, this after having the third-worst in the first half of the season.
With Citi Field being a bit more of a pitcher-friendly ballpark and both starters being backed up by solid relievers while being able to limit the long ball themselves, this is a good spot to take this total Under.
The play: Mets-Indians, Under 8¹/₂ runs.


