The Los Angeles Dodgers bring the best record in baseball into Citi Field on Sunday, hunting a three-game sweep of a New York Mets team that has lost its way. The market has installed Los Angeles as a clear road favorite at -162, and the total sits at 9.0 after opening a half-run higher. Both starting pitchers arrive scuffling, however, and that detail matters more than the nameplate. Our headline read points to a contained, low-scoring afternoon rather than the chalk simply running away.
Last Updated: Sunday, July 26, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Citi Field, Queens, New York |
| When | Sunday, July 26 — 1:40 PM ET |
| TV | SNY, SportsNet LA |
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Betting Preview
This finale is, as one preview put it, a battle of struggling pitchers. Los Angeles sends right-hander Emmet Sheehan, who is 4-7 with a 5.13 ERA over 87.2 innings. He misses bats, with 99 strikeouts against just 27 walks, yet the surface hides a velocity dip and a home run problem. His last outing on July 20 at Philadelphia was rough, and he keeps his rotation spot largely because Los Angeles is down several starters. Manager Dave Roberts has been blunt about the lack of alternatives.
New York counters with right-hander Freddy Peralta, who sits at 5-9 with a 5.01 ERA. In his first season in Queens after eight years in Milwaukee, Peralta has fought his command. He has allowed at least five runs in three of his last five starts, and 46 walks in 109.2 innings tell the story. His velocity is down close to a full tick, and his slider has stopped fooling hitters. With the Mets buried, he is a candidate to be moved before the deadline.
The context around the arms is lopsided. The Dodgers own the best record in the majors, lead the NL West, and have taken the first two games of this series by scores of 4-2 and 4-3. Their offense ranks among the league’s best. The Mets, in contrast, sit last in the NL East and entered the weekend roughly 18 games back. They have dropped seven of their last ten, and their run prevention has slipped along with their bats. For more on this matchup, see Saturday’s Dodgers-Mets prediction.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | -1.5 (+100) | -162 | U 9.0 (+100) |
| Mets | +1.5 (-120) | +136 | O 9.0 (-120) |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, July 26, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. New York Mets — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Dodgers | 75% | 25% | Mets |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction — Are Two Cold Arms a Quiet Afternoon?
Start with the market itself. The total opened at 9.5 and has since dropped to 9.0, a move that signals money leaning toward the under. That number came down for reasons that hold up on inspection. Citi Field is a spacious yard that has long suppressed run scoring, and the first two games of this series stayed tame at six and seven combined runs. Both landed under this number.
The pitching profiles fit the same theme. Sheehan and Peralta both carry ugly ERAs, but both also miss bats at a healthy clip. Strikeouts turn into outs, and a struggling New York lineup does little to threaten a big afternoon on its own. Meanwhile, the market’s downward drift lines up with the venue and the recent scores rather than fighting them.
The case against is real, and it belongs on the table. Both starters walk hitters and give up damage in bunches, so one crooked inning can flip a total quickly. The Los Angeles offense is elite and capable of turning a mistake into four runs. You are also laying into a number that has already moved, so the cleanest value is gone. Still, the park, the recent series scores, and the market all point the same way.
The Pick: Under 9.0 (+100)
Dodgers vs. Mets Prediction — Does the Road Favorite Have the Edge?
The talent gap in this game is hard to ignore. Los Angeles owns a deep, patient lineup that punishes command lapses, and Peralta has handed out walks and hard contact all month. Peralta’s recent slide has been well documented, and a high-OBP order is exactly the type that runs up his pitch count and forces an early exit. That is the recipe for the Dodgers building a lead.
The vehicle matters as much as the side here. Laying -162 on the moneyline asks for roughly a 62 percent outcome, and the public has already piled onto that price. The run line at even money is the better expression. As the road team, Los Angeles bats in the ninth even with a lead, giving it extra chances to stretch a one-run edge into two. That is the classic road-favorite argument for -1.5 at a plus price.
The counter is straightforward. Roughly a quarter of MLB games are decided by one run, and Saturday’s 4-3 finish is a fresh reminder that a Dodgers win does not guarantee a two-run margin. Sheehan could also stumble early and hand New York a lead of its own. The +1.5 for the Mets carries value in that world. This is a lean, not a lock, but the price on the favorite’s margin is where the edge sits.
The Pick: Dodgers Run Line -1.5 (+100)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The swing points in this game are easy to name. Watch Peralta’s first two innings, because his walks tend to snowball and put New York behind early. Watch Sheehan’s velocity and the long ball, since a single mistake pitch is his most likely path to trouble. If Sheehan exits early, the Los Angeles bullpen has carried a heavy load with the rotation banged up, and that is the scenario that could crack the under late.
Both plays point at the same picture: a Dodgers win that stays measured rather than a shootout. A result like 5-2 covers the run line and clears the under, which is the outcome we are leaning toward. Each pick still carries its own risk, so treat them as independent reads rather than a package. Here is the recap of our two best bets for this finale: Under 9.0 (+100) and Dodgers Run Line -1.5 (+100).
MLB Dodgers vs. Mets FAQ: Sunday July 26, 2026
What time does the Dodgers vs. Mets game start?
First pitch for the Dodgers vs. Mets series finale is set for 1:40 PM ET on Sunday, July 26, 2026. It is a Sunday afternoon start at Citi Field in Queens, wrapping a three-game set between the two clubs.
What channel is the Dodgers vs. Mets game on?
The game airs on SNY in the New York market and SportsNet LA in the Los Angeles market. There is no national television window for this Sunday afternoon matchup, so viewers outside those regions will likely need an out-of-market streaming package to watch.
Who is pitching for the Dodgers?
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan is the probable starter for the Dodgers. He enters at 4-7 with a 5.13 ERA across 87.2 innings this season, striking out 99 while walking 27. He opposes Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is 5-9 with a 5.01 ERA.
Where are the Dodgers and Mets playing today?
The game is at Citi Field in Queens, New York, the home ballpark of the Mets. Los Angeles is the visiting team for this series finale, closing out a three-game road set on the Mets’ turf.
Who won the last meeting between the Dodgers and Mets?
Los Angeles won the most recent meeting, 4-3, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. That was the Dodgers’ second straight win of this series after a 4-2 result on July 24, putting them in position to complete a sweep in Sunday’s finale.