New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction: Expect a much heated game 2

On Tuesday at Citi Field, the second game of a Major League Baseball series will begin between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. The New York Mets secured a win in game one thanks to a five-run lead, with the match ending 7-2.

The New York Mets are looking to get back on track after splitting their last eight games. The New York Mets are currently trailing in the National League wild card race by 8.5 games. The Mets pitching staff currently ranks 18th in quality starts with 39, is ranked 21st in ERA (4.55), and is ranked 22nd in WHIP (1.38). The offense of the New York Mets ranks 22nd in terms of runs per game (4.30), 24th in terms of batting average (.236), and 11th in terms of home runs (144). Jeff McNeil and Francisco Lindor have combined for 216 hits and 109 RBI for the New York Mets, while Brandon Nimmo leads the team with 111 hits and 47 RBI. This is David Peterson's turn to pitch, and so far he has a record of 3-7 with a 5.61 earned run average and 74 strikeouts. Peterson will face the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second time in his professional baseball career.

After losing five of their previous seven games, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in desperate need of a victory. The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 9.5 games behind the pace needed to clinch a wild card spot in the National League. The pitching staff for the Pittsburgh Pirates is ranked 13th in quality starts (43), 22nd in earned run average (4.56), and 24th in WHIP (1.40). The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 24th in runs scored per game (4.18), 26th in batting average (.235), and 23rd in home runs with 119. The Pittsburgh Pirates are led in hits and runs batted in by Bryan Reynolds, who has 109, while Andrew McCutchen and Ke'Bryan Hayes have combined for 170 hits and 75 runs batted in. The next batter is Bailey Falter, who is now 0-7 on the season with a 5.21 earned run average and 33 strikeouts. In his career against the New York Mets, Falter has a record of 1-1 with a 3.27 earned run average and 6 strikeouts.

I'm not going to rush out to the betting window to back any of these failing teams or any of these pitchers. Both Bailey Falter and David Peterson have WHIPs that are well over 1.50 and ERAs that are well over 5. Having said that, somebody needs to come out on top, and I'm leaning toward the Mets to do so because they've won a little over half of their most recent eight games and have a shot at winning three in a row. The New York Mets have a superior offense over the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Pirates are in worse form overall. Given that they are again the favorites in Game 2, the New York Mets should prevail when playing at home in this contest.