Vegas Play of the Day: Miami Marlins at New York Mets

By Case Keefer (contact)

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 | 11:30 a.m.

We’re entering the third season of the annual South Point-lined Play of the Day competition, effective July 1.

Starting bankrolls have reset to $10,000, with the maximum bet being to win $1,000 and the minimum wager $300. Ray Brewer won the 2015-2016 season, after Taylor Bern prevailed in 2014-2015.

New York Mets minus-120 vs. Miami Marlins: $300 to win $250

The Mets are surging. The Marlins are fading.

I’m betting on that trend to keep up for a while longer. New York caught Miami in the standings with an extra-innings win last night. The Mets should pass them tonight, as they have an edge in game two of the series at Citi Field.

And I think it’s a slightly better edge than the betting market is giving credit. Seth Lugo has looked good in each of his two appearances since getting promoted to the rotation.

Miami starter Tom Koehler has been the opposite in his last two, perhaps showing some wear as the long season drags on. That’s emblematic of his team, which is on the decline as the season winds down.

The Mets are going to finish strong and contend for a wild card berth. They should take a significant step in that journey tonight.

Current Standings: Keefer (9-5-1, $11,140), Bern (6-7, $10,224), Brewer (7-8, $9,365)

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.