Mets should win big in Jacob deGrom’s season debut against unrecognizable Nationals

These aren’t the same Nats deGrom is used to facing.

When Jacob deGrom takes the mound Tuesday for his first major league game in more than a year, he’ll be pitching against a Nationals lineup without any semblance of the one he’s used to facing.

The last time deGrom played his division rivals in Washington, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Bell were all in the lineup, and Juan Soto was still on the team nursing an injury. The previous time he played them was a matchup against Max Scherzer, who is now his Mets teammate. After Tuesday’s reported blockbuster deal sending Soto and Bell to the Padres, none of those players remain in Washington.

Instead, deGrom will face a lineup that more closely resembles a Triple-A ball club, a team that ranked bottom five in slugging percentage and run production even before the trade. It sets up for the two-time Cy Young winner to have a strong season debut. The Mets are favored by 2.5 runs and have the shortest moneyline odds of the day, -350 at Tipico Sportsbook.

Not only do I expect the Mets to win and cover, I think deGrom has a good chance to reach his six-inning limit imposed by the team and eclipse his 6.5 strikeout line at a paltry -155 odds. The Nats have been especially bad since the All-Star break, scoring just 32 runs in 10 games with a .217 average and .292 OBP, both bottom five numbers in that span.

The Mets aren’t the most explosive offense but they’re title contenders for a reason and shouldn’t have too hard a time against Nats starter Cory Abbott in his second career start.

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