Mets vs. Pirates prediction and odds for Wednesday, Aug. 16 (Pick This Hot Hitter)

The Mets and Pirates enter today’s matchup with identical 54-66 records – all but officially eliminated from the postseason. 

Neither team has their aces on tap for today as the Pirates’ Johan Oviedo (4.42 ERA) toes the rubber against the Mets’ Tylor Megill (5.64 ERA).

That might lead you to believe I’m targeting the over here, but that’s not quite the case. 

Let’s dig into the odds on today’s afternoon tilt. 

Mets vs. Pirates Odds, Spread and Total

Mets vs. Pirates Prediction and Pick

It’s hard to pick a side in a game where two struggling teams are trotting out a pair of ice-cold starting pitchers. 

I’m avoiding the over 8.5 runs here even though it hit in the first two games of this series because the bottom half of these lineups are UGLY. 

Both teams are shuffling their lineups to find what works, and that often means playing fringe starters in the hope that one finds a breakthrough. 

Instead, let’s target a singular batter who we think could be primed for a big day. 

Brandon Nimmo has been one of the Mets’ most consistent hitters with a .263 batting average, 19 doubles, four triples and 17 home runs across 114 games.

He’s been strong in a small sample against Oviedo, too, going 4-for-6 with four singles and two walks in eight career plate appearances. 

When you consider that Oviedo gets hit HARD by lefties (11 HR allowed to lefties vs 3 HR allowed to righties), it puts Nimmo in an even better position to have a strong night. 

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Pick: Brandon Nimmo Over 1.5 Total Bases (+145)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.