NY Mets vs. Oakland Athletics: Odds, predictions, pitching matchups

The New York Mets are 1st in the NL East and play the Oakland Athletics in a three-game series starting on Friday night at RingCentral Coliseum. Newyork won two of three games against the Milwaukee Brewers and lost the other two. Oakland has won 2 in row for the first time in over three weeks and is last in AL West.

Chris Bassitt and Cole Irvin are going to start for the New York Mets against their former team, the Oakland Athletics. The Mets acquired Bassit from Oakland in the offseason. Irvins has been struggling recently. He's won two of three starts this month but has conceded 15 runs in 18 2/3 innings. He has an ERA of 7.23 so far this season. I'm giving the edge to Bassett. New Mets lost the series finale in Milwaukee. They are looking to bounce back from the loss.

Jacob deGrom is 5-2 with a 2.32 ERA and Ken Waldichuk is 0-1 with 7.13 ERA. DeGro has had a tough time recently, but he's still been great since his return from injury. Waldachuk has a rocky road, having allowed 10 runs in his last 7 2/3 innings. New York Mets are going for the sweep on Sunday. The game starts at 4:07 p.m. at Citi Field. It's the biggest mismatch of the entire series.

Max Scherzer (10-4, 2.15 ERA) and JP Sears (6-2, 3.58 ERA), the Mets and Athletics are playing each other on Sunday at 4:07 p.m. (CT). Scherzler has won 10 games in a row and has 11 double-digit win seasons in his 16-year MLB career. Sears is 3-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 38 1/3 innings with the Athletics. The last time Sears started for the A's, he won his sixth game and his first one since August 21.