Mets vs. Athletics prediction and odds for Friday, April 14 (Senga's Ghost Pitch is as Good as Advertised)

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34)
New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) / Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Pretty much everyone expects it to be a rough season for the Oakland Athletics, but we know for sure that it’s been a rough start. The A’s are 3-10 and last in the AL West. They already have a six-game losing streak to their name.

The New York Mets have fallen behind the Braves in the NL East with a 7-6 record, but this is a chance to make up some ground with three games against the lowly A’s. 

In Game 1 tonight, the Mets turn to Kodai Senga to make his third start of the season and the A’s have James Kaprielian on the mound. Both pitchers have an ERA that starts with a one, but Kaprielian has an extra digit in his. 

Here are the odds for the Mets and the A’s in Oakland tonight. 

Mets vs. Athletics odds, run line and total

Mets vs. Athletics prediction and pick

The Oakland A’s are trying to lose games, we know that and if we didn’t, it’s the only logical explanation for their roster. They have nine players with 30 or more at bats on the season and only three of them have an OPS north of .700. Brent Rooker leads the team in homers with three and they might not have a single hitter in their lineup that scares Kodai Senga. The A’s have quickly separated themselves as the team with the worst record in the league and their lineup is only half of it. 

James Kaprielian has an 11.17 ERA and has given up four homers through 9.2 innings this year. He’s had an ERA just north of four in each of the last two seasons, so he’ll almost certainly start to pitch better, but there’s no reason to trust the A’s while he’s pitching at this point in time. 

The Mets are counting on Senga to be a huge addition and they haven’t been disappointed so far. He’s thrown his “ghost pitch” 42 times this season and has a 60% whiff percentage on it. Until the league figures him out his ERA of 1.59 might stay under two. There is slight cause for concern eventually because his FIP is 3.66, but it’s a small sample size and I have no worries against the A’s. 

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change