MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets

MLB Baseball

2026-07-24 - Los Angeles Dodgers at New York Mets

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets
United States : Major League Baseball
Friday 24th July 2026 - Scheduled 7:10pm EST
12:10am (British Time)

---

Preview

Having one of the biggest payrolls in the Major League is clearly going to help any team challenge for the World Series, but that alone is not going to be enough. You have to spend that money wisely and the Los Angeles Dodgers (65-38) have done that in their bid to become the first team out of the National League to win the World Series three times in a row.

They are not resting on their laurels though and the Dodgers are hoping to make some big moves before the trade deadline, although first they will be looking to get through this series across the weekend.

The hosts, the New York Mets (43-60) are also going to be potentially active at the trade deadline, but the money spent has not worked out nearly as well as it has for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Instead, the Mets are almost certainly thinking about 2027 and wondering what will need to change if they are going to have the kind of successes the investment suggests they should.

New York will hand the ball to Sean Manaea in the opener of this set and the pitcher has a 2-5 record and 4.74 ERA in twenty-one appearances this season, although this is set to be just the eighth start. The veteran has dealt with injury over the last couple of years and Sean Manaea has struggled to get back to the level he was producing in 2024.

Sean Manaea last pitched against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 and held them to two runs, although his career mark is now 1-5 with a 7.09 ERA against them.

2026 has been a tough year for Sean Manaea who was knocked around for four runs without getting out of the Fifth Inning and absorbed the decision loss against the Philadelphia Phillies last time out. Sean Manaea has a 4.86 ERA in his three July starts and the Mets will need him to find a way to keep them in this game without dipping into the bullpen too early.

The same can be said for the Los Angeles Dodgers who have Roki Sasaki going to the mound with his 3-5 record and 4.98 ERA in seventeen starts this season. This is only the second year in the Major League, but Sasaki may once again be used out of the bullpen as he was in the World Series run in 2025, although the Dodgers will give the pitcher the chance to change that narrative with starts in the regular season.

Roki Sasaki has not earned a decision win in any of his last eight starts and he has a 5.05 ERA in that time.

However, Sasaki is coming into this one behind one of his better starts of the season when keeping the New York Yankees from scoring an earned run into the Sixth Inning in a road start. This will be the first time Roki Sasaki pitches against the struggling New York Mets.

Prediction

A tough road trip continues for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but there is every chance they can take the opener of this series.

Both starting pitchers have struggled for consistency, but the New York Mets have been struggling for any kind of consistency overall.

That could end up being the edge that Roki Sasaki and the Dodgers need to take the opener having already swept a three game home series against the Mets this season.

The Pick :

New York Mets 4-5 Los Angeles Dodgers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Los Angeles Dodgers to Win at -130 with BetOnline