Phillies Mets Betting – Mets Steal Series From East-Leading Phillies In New York
Sports betting players will kick off the second half of the MLB season in New York, where the Mets host Philadelphia in a three-game set between National League East rivals. The Mets have already traded closer Francisco Rodriguez and more players could be moved, so you could see players with added motivation as they look to drive their stock up, and the Mets will surprise the Phillies this weekend.
- What: MLB Betting
- When: Friday, July 15th-Sunday, July 17th
- Where: Citi Field, New York, NY
- Pick: New York Mets
(All pitching matchups are tentative)
Friday, 7:10 PM ET – Vince Worley (4-1, 2.20) vs. R.A. Dickey (4-7, 3.61)
Worley hasn’t looked out of place in this star-studded Philadelphia rotation, and he has allowed two runs in his last four starts, which spans 25 innings of work. He has split a pair of meetings with the Mets this year, winning at home, and Worley is now 1-1 in three games (two starts) against the Mets in his short career, posting a 4.50 ERA. When the 23-year-old went to Citi Field in May, he was knocked for eight runs (five earned) in three innings of a 9-5 loss. Meanwhile, Dickey has given up more than three runs just once in his last 10 starts, and he is holding it together despite an ailing glute and a foot injury. The 36-year-old knuckleballer has split his four meetings with the Phillies, posting a 2.25 ERA.
Dickey doesn’t have good splits at home (1-5 in nine starts, 3.98 ERA), while Worley has been decent on the road (1-1 in five games, 3.32 ERA), but You have to consider Worley’s struggles the last time he was in Queens and remember, he is only 23 years old. He also has added responsibility with Roy Oswalt on the disabled list, and that is enough for us to give Dickey and the Mets the MLB betting edge on Friday night.
Betting Edge: New York Mets
Saturday, 4:10 PM ET – Cole Hamels (11-4, 2.32) vs. Jonathon Niese (8-7, 3.88)
Hamels is coming off his second All-Star appearance, and you could argue that he should have started the game instead of teammate Roy Halladay. He hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a start over his last nine outings, and after getting rocked by the Mets in his 2011 debut, allowing six runs over 2.2 innings, Hamels tossed a 10-strikeout gem at Citi Field to take his career record to 3-9 in 15 starts against New York with a 4.22 ERA. The 27-year-old southpaw is also 1-3 in five starts in Queens with a 3.73 ERA. Niese has been pretty steady as well, allowing three runs or less in eight of his last nine starts, and he has good numbers against the Mets, going 2-3 in six starts over his career with a 3.11 ERA. The 24-year-old lefty is 3-4 in nine home starts this season with a 3.40 ERA.
MLB betting odds may favor the Phillies slightly on the road, but sportsbook players should definitely consider the under in this contest as this should be the best pitching matchup of this series. Even though Hamels had a great game in his last outing against the Mets, over his career he hasn’t been consistent against the Phillies’ East rivals. Lean towards the Mets here.
Betting Edge: New York Mets
Sunday, 1:10 PM ET – Cliff Lee (9-6, 2.82) vs. Mike Pelfrey (5-8, 4.55)
Lee pitched 1.2 innings in his third All-Star appearance, and after a slow start, he ripped through the month of June, winning all five starts with an ERA of 0.21. He got knocked around in Toronto, but Lee rebounded to allow a single run in a 4-1 home loss to Atlanta. The 32-year-old lefty is 1-0 in two starts against the Mets after a no-decision on May 1st, and he didn’t allow a single earned run in his lone trip to Citi Field, which came last year with Texas. Pelfrey has been all over the place this season, and he has a no-decision against the Phillies this season to take his career record to 6-5 in 16 starts, posting a 5.01 ERA.
Pelfrey is 3-0 in seven starts at Citi Field in 2011 with a 2.96 ERA, but he has been far too inconsistent to put your faith in. Also, the Phillies may be playing to avoid a sweep in this game, so back Lee and go with Philadelphia in your online betting picks.
Betting Edge: Philadelphia Phillies
