Through a week and a half of play, the Philadelphia Phillies are the toast of the MLB betting community with it clocking in as the best money earner in the league. The same can’t and won’t be said for the New York Mets who’ve had a tough time finding traction due to COVID-19 and Mother Nature. Having said that, these teams have already run up against one another and it was Bryce Harper and company who came out the series victor at online sportsbooks by taking two of three at Citizens Bank Park. Even so, the series still played out relatively close with Philadelphia only outscoring New York by the aggregate score of 17-13 with the over cashing in all three matchups. But before you click next to the Phillies and press submit in the third of this extended four-game series, just know that it’s the Mets that currently possess the shorter odds of ousting the Braves and winning the NL East at online sportsbooks.
First pitch for the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets is scheduled for Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 7:10 p.m. ET from Citi Field. The matchup will air live on the MLB Network. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
MLB Betting Lines at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
After coming back to prevent the Braves from busting the brooms out over the weekend, the Phillies begin the new week with an impressive 7-3 record through their first 10 games. By cashing in as near +150 underdogs against Atlanta – albeit in a controversial fashion – Philly’s made a cool $514 overall for MLB bettors that invested in them to this point of the season. It’s only 1-2 on the road and down $52 overall. The Mets find themselves at the other end of the spectrum which isn’t a place they expected to be with all the offseason buzz and hype the franchise received. Still, it’s only been able to take the field for five games and just had its most recent game suspended due to rain on Sunday. As it is, New York stands 2-3 overall and down $167 for those that backed them in those matchups. However, the Mets are the current +150 choices to win the division and sit only behind the Braves, Padres and Dodgers on the NL pennant odds. For comparison’s sake, Philadelphia is a +400 dog to win the division and offers up a 20-1 return should it represent the National League in the Fall Classic.
Probable Pitchers
Zack Wheeler: After spinning seven innings of shutout ball to go along with 10 strikeouts in his season debut at home against the Braves, the right-hander had a rough go of it in his rematch with Atlanta’s sticks last Friday night on the road. Ronald Acuna Jr. took him yard and he got blasted for six other hits and 3 ER while walking just as many batters as he sent down on strikes (4). Most bothersome was that he failed to even go five innings. This time around, he’ll get to throw at a different offense and it just so happens to be one that went to war for him in year’s past. Wheeler made three starts against his former team last season and went 1-0 with a 3.54 ERA and .273 BAA while striking out 13 and only issuing one free pass.
Joey Lucchesi: The Mets haven’t needed to go to their fifth starter. That changes on Wednesday night when the south-paw makes his season debut as a starter. Lucchesi has made only one appearance for his new team in 2021, and he shined when given the chance by only conceding one hit while striking out three in his two innings against the Phillies back on April 7. The lefty has dominated in his two career starts against Philadelphia in throwing 14 combined innings and only allowing six hits and a couple ER with a solid 13:5 K/BB ratio. That said, he’ll undoubtedly have his hands full in his third career start with this edition of the Phillies 2-0 and averaging 5.5 runs per game against left-handed pitching.
Phillies vs. Mets Prediction
I like what I’m seeing from the Phillies to start the year. Though the offense is yet to get going with a number of guys getting out to slow starts, I’m loving the pitching staff right about now. The rotation ranks No. 10 in the quality start department, and the bullpen looks to finally be a strength after being the huge Achilles heel that prevented it from qualifying for the playoffs since Harper’s arrival. The recent oblique injury to Archie Bradley is a bummer, but Hector Neris is still perfect in his save chances. If not for a garbage walk-off win on a hit batsman over the weekend, New York would have just one win to its credit entering this series. The offense has been much worse than Philadelphia’s while the rebuilt bullpen has been a major disappointment as evidenced by its gross 5.54 collective ERA. I’m not a believer in Lucchesi whatsoever. New York will likely figure it all out at some point this season, but I’m not willing to pay up to see if that “point” happens to be tonight. Look for Wheeler to shine in his return to Queens and lead the Phillies to an important win against their division rivals.
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