The New York Mets (49-66) and Cleveland Guardians (57-58) wrap up their three-game interleague series Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field as the Mets go for the sweep in Ohio. New York won Tuesday’s opener 6-2 before following it up with a hard-fought 6-5 extra-inning victory on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead.
The Mets jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in Game 1 thanks to a three-run home run by Luis Torrens in the second inning and a solo shot by Bo Bichette in the third. Carson Benge also homered in the opener as starter Sean Manaea allowed just two earned runs over six innings before the Mets’ bullpen followed with scoreless appearances. New York also grabbed an early lead Wednesday behind back-to-back solo home runs by Brett Baty and Jorge Polanco in the third inning. While it was a back-and-forth game from that point on, Bichette came through with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 10th inning, and Daniel Duarte recorded the save.
Thursday afternoon’s pitching matchup features National League Rookie of the Year candidate Nolan McLean and his 3.29 ERA against 2026 All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin. Griffin has been one of the best stories in baseball this season, carrying a 12-3 record and a 3.06 ERA into the game in what will be his first start for the Guardians after being acquired from Washington ahead of the trade deadline earlier this week.
Mets vs. Guardians Current Odds
Despite the Mets winning the first two games of the series, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists the Guardians as slight home favorites for Thursday afternoon’s finale:
- Moneyline: Guardians -115, Mets +105
- Run Line: Guardians -1.5 (+160), Mets +1.5 (-225)
- Total (Runs): Over 7.5 (+100), Under 7.5 (-110)
Every qualifying pregame MLB Moneyline, Run Line, and Total wager gets a little extra value during Hard Rock Bet’s 10¢ Summer Sale. Throughout August, eligible markets feature reduced-vig dime lines with no opt-in required.
Mets vs. Guardians Predictions
The Mets vs. Guardians series finale is one of a handful of day games on Thursday’s MLB slate, so make sure to get in on the early action at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook. Don’t forget to take a look at the Stats Hub for baseball betting insights and trends to help make picks like the one below:
Guardians vs. Mets Best Bet: Nolan McLean Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-150)
Nolan McLean has proven to be one of the elite strikeout pitchers in baseball this season, as his 148 strikeouts rank ninth in MLB and fifth in the National League. The young right-hander has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last four starts and in eight of his previous nine outings, including 10 against Philadelphia on July 19.
The Guardians rank around the middle of the pack in MLB in strikeouts this season and haven’t struck out much recently, tying for the seventh-fewest since the All-Star break. However, Cleveland’s lineup struck out eight times in Tuesday’s loss and 13 times in Wednesday night’s defeat, so a strikeout pitcher like McLean could generate plenty of swings and misses Thursday afternoon.
- Guardians vs. Mets Player Prop Pick for Aug. 6: Nolan McLean Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-150)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for NYM-CLE
McLean’s strikeout prop is also the most-bet player prop heading into first pitch:
- Nolan McLean – Over 5.5 Strikeouts
- Steven Kwan – Over 0.5 Hits
- Steven Kwan – Over 1.5 RBIs
- Nolan McLean – To Record 5+ Strikeouts
- Francisco Lindor – Over 0.5 Hits
Mets vs. Guardians Game Info
- 📍 Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
- 📅 Date: Thursday, Aug. 6
- ⏰ First Pitch: 1:10 PM ET
- 📺💻 TV/Streaming: ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV
- ⚾ Probable Pitchers:
- Mets: Nolan McLean
- Guardians: Foster Griffin
More Ways to Bet
One swing can cash your ticket, but until then, Florida players can keep things interesting with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet. It’s another way to stay engaged between plate appearances.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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