Arizona Diamondbacks vs New York Mets — Apr 8, 2026 | AI Prediction & Stats

The Mets take advantage of a favorable matchup against Ryne Nelson, whose early-season command issues feed a first-inning run sparked by Luis Robert Jr. and Mark Vientos. Nelson steadies briefly, but the heart of the New York order chips away again in the third. A decisive fifth-inning rally—triggered by a Vientos double and Francisco Álvarez’s opposite-field homer—knocks Nelson out and forces Arizona’s already-strained bullpen into extended duty. David Peterson isn’t dominant, yet he limits damage by keeping Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte off balance with a heavy dose of sliders. Carroll finally puts Arizona on the board with a solo blast in the fourth, but Peterson strands two in scoring position to preserve the lead. With Juan Soto out, the Mets lean on depth: Robert’s speed manufactures a seventh-inning insurance run off Ryan Thompson. Brooks Raley bridges to Devin Williams, who slams the door despite a late eighth-inning RBI single from Carroll. Arizona’s offense never fully recovers from the absence of Carlos Santana and Jordan Lawlar, and their bullpen’s recent workload shows in diminished velocity and location. New York’s superior bullpen, hot bats from Vientos and Álvarez, and clean infield defense fuel a 5-2 victory that extends the Mets’ division lead.