Griffin Canning put on a stellar pitching performance, leading the New York Mets to a 4-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. Canning allowed just one earned run, striking out eight batters over six innings, marking his best outing in a Mets uniform. After struggling with illness, he returned to the mound strong, displaying impressive command and efficiency, particularly in the later innings.

The Mets capitalized early with a robust second inning, scoring four runs off Andrew Pallante, including a home run from Mark Vientos. Despite a shaky start, Canning regained his composure, striking out batters and minimizing scoring threats effectively. The Mets' bullpen added to the victory, holding the Cardinals to just two baserunners in the last three innings.

Bobby Witt Jr. is making waves as one of the top performers in MLB, showcasing his skills with a nine-game hit streak and scoring in 8 of his last 13 games. He poses a strong threat for scoring against the Detroit Tigers, making him a prime candidate for prop bets. Meanwhile, pitcher Taj Bradley is also worth a look as he faces a Yankees lineup with a high strikeout rate. Conversely, Griffin Canning is expected to struggle, particularly against a Cardinals team that rarely whiffs, making him a solid fade in strikeout props.

Griffin Canning's trade from the Angels to the Braves was anticipated to be a career revival, but the Braves' decision not to tender him a contract led to a fresh start with the Mets. Currently, Canning seems to have found his form, showing promising early season numbers. Embracing a 'pitch backwards' strategy, he's increased his slider usage significantly while maintaining health after past injuries. The Mets' coaching staff has effectively helped pitchers like Luis Severino and Sean Manea, indicating a potential for Canning to thrive in this new environment.

Canning's recent focus on enhancing his slider, which has historically been his most effective pitch, reflects a strategic shift that could lead to a successful season. With improved command and a new pitch mix, including a revived cutter, he aims to establish himself as a key player in the Mets' rotation, potentially replicating the success seen with other pitchers under the team's development philosophy.

The New York Mets, standing at 8-4, are set to face the Oakland Athletics (5-8) in Sacramento for a weekend series opener on April 11, 2025. Griffin Canning will take the mound for the Mets, while JP Sears will do so for Oakland. The Mets recently completed a homestand, winning five out of six games, with Pete Alonso leading the charge, batting .381 with 7 RBIs over the last six games. Meanwhile, the Athletics struggled against the Padres, losing two of three and finding themselves tied for the MLB lead in home runs with Tyler Soderstrom's six.

The game details indicate a start time of 10:05 PM EST, and fans can catch the action via SNY or NBCSCA+. Current betting odds favor the Mets at -136 on the moneyline, while the Athletics are at +115, with the total set at 10.0 runs. Both teams have been on contrasting streaks recently; the Mets’ winning streak was halted at six games. Fantasy players should note Francisco Lindor's impressive eight-game hitting streak, while the Athletics have seen the Game Total OVER hit in seven of their last 13 games.