Christian Scott pitches. (Photo by Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Here is some info on where to watch and what to expect for the primetime games on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Fox has the rights to Saturday’s primetime games all season long.
New York Mets (16-16) @ Tampa Bay Rays (15-18), 7:15 EST, FOX
Odds: Rays -120 (ESPNBet)
Probable Starters: Christian Scott (NYM) vs. Zach Littell (TB) 1-2, 3.27 ERA
Preview: Christian Scott, the Mets’ No. 5 prospect, will make his MLB debut on Saturday, returning to his home state of Florida.
The teams battled in a high-scoring slugfest in the first game of the series on Friday night, and the Rays walked away victorious 10-8. Both teams burned through their bullpens and will need some length from the starters on Saturday; they combined to use nine pitchers last night.
The Rays have gotten off to a disappointing start to their 2024 campaign. They are 15-18 on the young season and have gone 3-7 over their last ten. Maybe the brawl they got into on Tuesday night will be the spark they needed to right the ship.
The Mets have the highest payroll in baseball, and so far, the juice ain’t worth the squeeze as they are a perfectly mediocre 16-16 so far this year. In the NL East, that isn’t going to cut it. Already chasing the Phillies and the Braves, the Mets can’t afford to fall too far behind.
Both teams have playoff aspirations, and this series may be the one that gets them both back on track.
Prediction: Normally, it’s hard to back a pitcher in his MLB debut, but being in his home state with family in the stands will be a confidence booster for Scott.
The Mets take this one on the road
(OR depending on the local market)
Seattle Mariners (17-15) @ Houston Astros (12-20), 7:15 EST, FOX
Odds: Houston -140
Probable Starters: Logan Gilbert (SEA) 2-0, 2.03 ERA vs Framber Valdez (HOU) 1-0, 2.60 ERA
Preview: This has all the makings of a great game—two rivals with two of their best pitchers on the mound.
As discussed last week when previewing the Mexico City Series, the Astros have struggled early on, especially against teams above .500, going 8-19 in those games. They had a great comeback win last night over the M’s, scoring four runs in the seventh to steal one. Their pitching has been dismal this year, but Valdez has been his usual dominant presence. In his career, he has started 10 games against the Mariners and has allowed over three runs only once.
The Mariners are in a tough stretch of the schedule. Their last three series were against the defending World Series Champion Texas Rangers, the team they beat, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the perennial playoff team, the Atlanta Braves. However, they won each of those series and went 6-3. Gilbert will look to get them back in the win column after falling last night. In his career, he has gone 4-2 with an ERA of 3.63 against the Astros.
Prediction: The big bats in the Astros lineup have fared well against Gilbert and that will be enough for Valdez tonight.
Astros win