New York Mets at Miami Marlins odds, picks and predictions

The New York Mets and Miami Marlins meet Thursday for Opening Day. First pitch at loanDepot park in Miami is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. Let's analyze Tipico Sportsbook's lines around the Mets vs. Marlinsodds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting of 2023. Mets won the season series 13-6 in 2022.

The Mets made some bold moves during the offseason, including the signing of free-agent RHPs Justin Verlander and Japanese import Kodai Senga, as well as the re-signing of OF Brandon Nimmo. LHP Jose Quintana was an underrated signing, too, bolstering the pitching staff.

It wasn't all great this offseason, however, as RP Edwin Diaz suffered a knee injury during a Team Puerto Rico celebration at the World Baseball Classic, and the Mets now have no clear-cut closer at the back end of their bullpen.

That devastating injury happened on the field of the Marlins, and so did the Japan-USA WBC Final, an instant classic. It might be the best baseball we see in Miami all season.

The Marlins have the 3rd-longest odds to win the National League at +4000, despite adding reigning American League batting champ Luis Arraez at the top of the team's order. This is a mish-mash batting order with a mix of veterans and younger players which could make some noise, but the pitching staff is just so-so after defending NL Cy Young winner RHP Sandy Alcantara.