The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves conclude their highly charged NL East series on Thursday with a stellar pitching matchup between three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander of the Mets and one of the favorites to win it this year in Spencer Strider of the Braves.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB betting odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Mets vs. Braves Game Information

✅ Game
✅ Series#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/OoWacQYTko

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 8, 2023

• When: Thursday, June 8, 2023, 7:20 PM ET
• Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
• TV: SNY, BSSO, MLBN
• Radio: WCBS 880 AM (Mets) // 680 The Fan (Braves)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Mets (+149) // Braves (-172)

READ MORE: Cardinals vs. Rangers MLB Odds, Preview and Prediction – June 7, 2023

Why bet on the New York Mets?

The Mets might have to make a change at DH as Daniel Vogelbach is in a 4-for-41 slump that’s dropped his OPS down to .649, and even when Vogelbach is hitting, he’s not as valuable as his OPS suggests, since he has limited success either scoring or driving in runs. The Mets need to install rookie slugger Mark Vientos as their primary DH going forward.

First baseman and NL MVP candidate Pete Alonso The first baseman leads the majors with 22 homers, three ahead of the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (toe), but Alonso has had much less success on balls that stay in the park — he sports a .231 batting average on the season thanks to a career-worst .199 BABIP. That’s mostly bad luck so expect Alonso’s average to start climbing.

On Tuesday, the club activated catcher Omar Narvaez from the 60-day injured list and designated fellow catcher Tomas Nido for assignment. Narvaez and good-looking rookie Francisco Alvarez, formerly the No. 1 prospect in the sport, will share duties behind the plate.

New York starts three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander (2-3, 4.25) on Thursday and it’s fair to say he has moderately disappointed so far after getting a massive free agent contract. Verlander (2-3) took the loss Friday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over six innings as the Mets fell 3-0 to the Blue Jays. He struck out eight.

The 40-year-old was dominant after serving up a leadoff homer to George Springer, but the New York offense couldn’t get anything going. Verlander generated 30 called or swinging strikes among his 117 pitches as he delivered his third quality start in six outings since making his belated season debut. The righty has a 4.25 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB through 36 innings.

Verlander took two line drives off his upper right thigh against Toronto but is fine. The 117 pitches marked the most for a pitcher 40 or older since R.A. Dickey threw 121 for the Braves in 2017.

“Gives up a home run to lead off the game and then puts up a lot of zeros there. … That’s impressive,” Manager Buck Showalter said. “Been doing that a long time, being able to dial up what was needed to keep us in the game there. We just couldn’t put across any runs.”

Verlander hasn’t looked quite as sharp since coming off the injured list in early May, but the former AL MVP has managed to keep the Mets in games for the most part despite diminished metrics. Hey, it could have been worse. The Mets only signed Verlander because they lost two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom to Texas in free agency. New York wanted deGrom back but the Rangers overpaid and now look rather foolish because the injury-prone deGrom is out until next summer at least following Tommy John Surgery. Verlander made just one start during the 2020 season before he had the operation. He ultimately returned to form and won the third Cy Young Award of his Hall of Fame career last year.

Verlander will make his first career start at Truist Park, marking the 34th venue Verlander has started in. Verlander joins Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto, Rich Hill, Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton, Jordan Lyles and Robbie Ray as the only other active pitchers to have made at least one start in 34 or more ballparks. Verlander’s first three career starts against the Braves all came at Turner Field. He was 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in those three. Verlander last faced Atlanta way back in 2016 while with Detroit.

Why bet on the Atlanta Braves?

Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna is aiming for a 40-homer, 40-steal season and is nearly on pace for that – he fell three steals shy of in 2019. Acuna is actually on pace for almost 60 steals this year. Guys are running wild with the new rules, which helps the runners and hurts pitchers.

Atlanta starts ace Spencer Strider, the runner-up for 2022 NL Rookie of the Year and a leading contender for the Cy Young Award. Strider (6-2) allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in six innings, earning the win in Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Arizona. The four walks were a season high, but he was able to work around the free passes. Strider still managed to throw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes, including 15 whiffs.

Strider owns a 2.97 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 113 strikeouts through 69.2 innings. He should be a first-time All-Star and potentially could reach the 300-strikeout mark this season if he can stay healthy. Strider faced the Mets on May 1 in New York and got the win despite allowing four runs in five innings, one of his worst starts of the year. Strider struck out eight — snapping his then-team-record streak of nine straight starts with at least nine strikeouts.

Mets vs. Braves Betting Trends

• Mets are 35-16 in the last 51 Thursday games.
• Mets are 40-19 in its last 59 during game 3 of a series.
• The total went under in 6 of NY Mets’ last 8 games.
• Braves are 5-1 in the last 6 during game 3 of a series.
• Braves are 4-1 in its last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• The total went under in 5 of Atlanta’s last 7 games.

Mets vs. Braves Betting Prediction

Braves 4, Mets 3.

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