Ricky Dimon
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A full 15-game slate in Major League Baseball on Tuesday features one nationally televised game on ESPN between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. The Cubs will be hoping it goes better than their last ESPN game—which was also their last game in general. They just got embarrassed by the Atlanta Braves 13-4 on Sunday Night Baseball. With the Cubs trying to bounce back, Tuesday’s contest is getting the same game parlay treatment it deserves. Let’s take a look at the best such option for this showdown, and be sure to check out our full game preview for picks on the side and total.
Mets ML (-126)
Pete Alonso to hit a home run (+360)
Taijuan Walker Over 5.5 strikeouts (+110)
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is the entire plan here, as Pete Alonso going yard and Taijuan Walker mowing down opposing batters left and right obviously goes will with a New York win. Let’s break down each of the three legs one by one.
Mets ML (-126)
The Mets and Cubs will face one another for the first time since 2019 when Walker goes up against Chicago’s Jake Arrieta. Walker is coming off a strong 2020 in which he compiled an ERA of 2.70 in 53.1 innings, and he has taken that momentum into this 2021 campaign. He has allowed just three runs in 10.1 innings pitched in two starts. Now he faces a Cubs offense that has started in atrocious fashion. The Cubs are hitting just .188, including .137 with runners in scoring position. They have just four players hitting over .200. Walker has yet to allow a home run this season and that is the means by which Chicago has scored the majority of its runs, so the home team could be in trouble.
Pete Alonso to hit a home run (+360)
Alonso has hit only two homers so far in 2021, but there is nothing to be alarmed about at this point. The 2019 National League Rookie of the Year has multi-hit performances in two of the last three games, including a dinger this past Saturday. He has always hit better against right-handed pitchers, too, so he will be confident when running into Arrieta. The Cubs’ veteran starter three runs in 5.0 innings during his most recent appearance against Milwaukee, including one HR allowed.
Taijuan Walker Over 5.5 strikeouts (+110)
Walker’s outstanding start to this 2021 campaign includes 12 strikeouts in 10.1 innings. He recorded 50 strikeouts in 53.1 innings last season, so he is basically right at a strikeout per inning in recent times. Chicago shortstop is an absolute strikeout machine right now, leading the majors in that department with 27. He has fanned a ridiculous 15 times in the last seven contests. Joc Pederson, Ian Happ, and Jason Heyward have all struck out at least 16 times.
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