Rockies vs. Mets Thursday MLB probable pitchers, odds: New York biggest favorite of 2022 season, second-biggest in Jacob deGrom's career

It's important to note that different sportsbooks have different odds, but Mets two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom should close as the biggest betting favorite he has been since 2019 when the right-hander takes the mound tonight at Citi Field against the Colorado Rockies. As of this writing, New York is a whopping -455 at Caesars Sportsbook – the biggest overall favorite of the 2022 MLB season.

The biggest money line upset this year was Kansas City +340 at Toronto on July 14 when the Royals beat the Blue Jays and ace Alek Manoah (-425) by a score of 3-1. In deGrom's season debut on Aug. 2, the Mets were -380 at Washington (+300) and lost 5-1.

According to my research, the only time deGrom has been a bigger favorite than Thursday was on Sept. 25, 2019 when he was -480 at Citi Field against the Marlins. deGrom threw seven shutout innings in the 10-3 win, but New York was eliminated from playoff contention.

On normal rest, deGrom (2-1, 2.31 ERA) was lined up to start Tuesday's Subway Series finale at Yankee Stadium, but with Taijuan Walker cleared to pitch off a bulging disc in his lower back, manager Buck Showalter opted to give deGrom a couple of extra days to pitch against a much easier opponent. deGrom is 5-1 with a 1.17 ERA in nine career starts vs. the Rockies.

"The feedback we get from [deGrom], and everybody, on where he is," Showalter said when asked why deGrom would be moved back in the rotation. "Keep in mind, the torque and the things you do to create what he creates. We're trying to be careful."

The Mets were swept by the Yankees in the two-game set. The Mets have lost three in a row just once this season: June 26-29 (one at Miami, two at home vs. Houston). New York went 4-6 on a 10-game road trip to Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Bronx but capped a stretch of 27 games in 26 days with an 18-9 record. The Mets' lead in the NL East is down to a single game over Atlanta.

Colorado was obliterated at home by Texas on Wednesday and then had to travel halfway across the country. The Rockies are the worst road team in the majors at 18-39. This starts their longest swing of the season, an 11-day, 10-game trip. Rookie Ryan Feltner (2-4, 5.88 ERA) starts Thursday. He's 0-2 with a 6.26 ERA on the road. 

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