Miami Marlins vs. New York Mets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/20/2022

Time: 1:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Citi Field, Queens, NY

Where to watch: Bally Sports Florida, SNY, MLB Network

DraftKings: Mets -170, Marlins +145

BetMGM: Mets -175, Marlins +145

Caesars: Mets -169, Marlins +150

Marlins: 29-35

Mets: 44-24

When in doubt, as it pertains to the Miami Marlins, always believe you can win a game with Sandy Alcantara on the mound because it almost seems like a guarantee. And that was the case on Sunday when the Marlins defeated the New York Mets 6-2 and took their first game of this four-game series.

The finale is on Monday with an early start time. But if you're looking for the Marlins to find a way to get a split out of this whole ordeal, I'm not feeling so confident about such things. And it's mainly because the Mets are the Mets and they're running away (at least for the moment) with the National League East as we speak.

But it's primarily because of matchups and that's why the Marlins were able to get by with that four-run victory on Sunday. Had it not been for Jerar Encarnacion's grand slam in the top of the seventh, Alcantara might have had to go even further than anticipated to get a win.

But Alcantara did more than enough by going eight innings and striking out eight to improve to 7-2 on the season and further his case for the NL Cy Young award.

“I told him if you get a hit or a homer, I'm going to buy something,” Alcantara told Encarnacion when the 24-year-old was called up on Friday.

“Let's go — get my clothes,” a smiling Encarnación said he told Alcantara after game.

"Anything he wants," the pitcher responded.

That's true teammates and a true ace who delivered and a prospect who had a tremendous debut. Encarnacion hit a grand slam, stole a base and even threw a runner out from right. To be sure, that was a hell of a debut.

“He kind of showed the whole package today, from the standpoint of his defense, he runs pretty good, got the power,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I've always compared him, and it's probably not even close to being fair, to Vladdy (Guerrero) Sr."

While Alcantara did his thing, Mets starter Chris Bassitt tried his best to follow suit. Bassitt went 6.1 innings and struck out nine, but was pulled out for Julio Lugo who gave up the grand slam to Encarnacion.

“I wouldn’t have been out there if [I didn’t have more in the tank],” Bassitt said. “I’ve done it in the past multiple times. Me and Buck have a good relationship that, if I feel good, I’ll go back out there. That will be a common theme the rest of the year. It’s not a big deal. … If I feel good, I’m not afraid to go 115, 120 [pitches].”

“I was trying to get ahead,” Lugo said on the grand slam. “Missed a couple of fastballs up. Full count, I threw a pretty good back-door sinker. He just went with [the pitch] and put a good swing on it.”

Trevor Rogers will get the call in an attempt to salvage a split, while David Peterson will go for the Mets and try to take three of four.

Rogers' ERA is creeping toward 6.00 and it's no coincidence that he's been shaky when getting on the mound. If the Mets' bats realize that Alcantara isn't going in this one, this could be a long day for the Marlins and another sign of why the Mets are the top team in the National League. Mets win 7-2

Marlins are 1-5 on Monday games this season.

Marlins are 16-11 against division opponents this season.

Mets are 40-57 against left-handed starters the past three seasons.

Mets are 6-1 when David Peterson starts this season.

Marlins:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
Jon Berti (R) 3B
Avisail Garcia (R) DH
Miguel Rojas (R) SS
Lewin Diaz (L) 1B
Jacob Stallings (R) C
Bryan De La Cruz (R) CF
Jerar Encarnacion (R) RF
Luke Williams (R) LF
SP - Trevor Rogers

Mets:
Brandon Nimmo (L) CF
Starling Marte (R) RF
Francisco Lindor (S) SS
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Jeff McNeil (L) LF
Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B
Luis Guillorme (L) 2B
Nick Plummer (L) DH
Tomas Nido (R) C
SP - David Peterson

Batting average: Garrett Cooper -- .313

Home runs: Jazz Chisholm Jr. -- 13

RBI: Jazz Chisholm Jr. -- 42

Wins: Sandy Alcantara -- 7

ERA: Sandy Alcantara -- 1.72

Batting average: Jeff McNeil -- .326

Home runs: Pete Alonso -- 19

RBI: Pete Alonso -- 63

Wins: Carlos Carrasco -- 8

ERA: Carlos Carrasco -- 3.96