Vegas Play of the Day: Mets at Nationals

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Monday, April 6, 2015 | 7:11 a.m.

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point. Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

Washington Nationals minus-1.5 at plus-115 vs. New York Mets: $500 to win $650 Betting the run line is a risky bet in baseball because the team you wager on not only has to win, but win by two or more runs. Playing the run-line is understandable with the plus-money prices luring gamblers for a quick payday, especially on parlays. That’s what makes baseball season fun, right?

But wagering on the Washington Nationals today on the run line with Max Scherzer starting in his Washington debut isn’t that risky of a bet. Consider the opponent. The Mets counter with 41-year-old Bartolo Colon, who somehow still has a job. And, surprisingly, he is still worthy of making a start on opening day — his first since 2006. Unreal.

The Nationals are going to put the ball in play against Colon, who isn’t a strikeout pitcher, fanning just 151 batters in 202 innings last year. And he had a 4.06 earned run average in 2014, which is why some are questioning Mets manager Terry Collins’ decision to go with Colon over the more effective Jacob deGrom or Matt Harvey in the marquee opening day slot.

It might not matter who the Mets pitch, because Scherzer is so dominating. He was the Cy Young award winner last year with Detroit and the most significant signing in free agency. The Nationals gave him more than $200 million. Today, he starts earning the money.

Standings: Keefer (73-71-2, $10,607), Bern (71-66-1, $9,646), Brewer (64-78-3, $2,345)

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21