Mets vs. Dodgers Wednesday MLB probable pitchers, odds: Facing Max Scherzer, Los Angeles is home underdog for first time in five years

With how utterly dominant the Los Angeles Dodgers have been in recent seasons, they haven't been home underdogs since April 2018. That changes in Wednesday's series finale and potential playoff preview against the New York Mets as the Dodgers will face three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. New York opened as a -130 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook with L.A. at +110.

All sportsbooks can have different numbers but according to one database, the Dodgers were last home underdogs on April 21, 2018, against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. The Dodgers prevailed 4-0. They will be home underdogs again this season, likely multiple times, as this year's club is weaker on paper than recent past ones and doesn't have a dominant rotation.

There was nearly a Hall of Fame matchup on the mound between three-time Cy Young Award winners in Scherzer, who pitched after the 2021 trade deadline with the Dodgers, and Clayton Kershaw, but we missed out by a day as Kershaw pitched Tuesday and was terrific in a 5-0 win. Former AL MVP Mookie Betts was placed on the paternity list before the game yet plans to return Wednesday.

The 38-year-old Scherzer (2-1, 4.41 ERA) was so-so his first two starts this year, both on the road, but shut out San Diego on one hit over five last time out at Citi Field. Scherzer would have been on normal rest Sunday with an easy opponent in the Athletics but was pushed back to due back soreness. The right-hander's velocity has been a bit down. Last season, the Mets lost Scherzer to two stints on the injured list with oblique issues.

Scherzer has pitched 93.2 career regular-season innings vs. the Dodgers and is 5-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 105 strikeouts. Freddie Freeman has seen him the most of any L.A. player, going 11-for-49 with four doubles, three homers and 14 strikeouts. David Peralta is 6-for-20 off Scherzer with two homers.

Los Angeles starts free-agent signee Noah Syndergaard (0-2, 5.63 ERA), a former rising superstar with the Mets. "Thor" has had two quality starts with the Dodgers and a third in which he was roughed up for six runs over four in Arizona. Syndergaard has never faced his former team. Starling Marte is 0-for-8 in his career off Syndergaard. 

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