The New York Mets head back to Citi Field for the first time since losing Game 5 of the World Series, and you can bet that they—including their fans—still remember that day. But tonight is the time to start making new and good memories, when the Mets kick off their home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Can New York crush their visitors? Or will it be the other way around?
Read on below for a detailed look at this National League East showdown. And if you’re craving for some heated action in the NBA, click here for our comprehensive preview of the collision between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Sacramento Kings.
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Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets Betting Preview
Where: Citi Field, New York City, NY
When: Friday, April 8, 2016, 1:10 PM ET
Line: Philadelphia Phillies (+200) vs. New York Mets (-240); total: 6.5 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast(s): CSP, SNY
Betting on the Philadelphia Phillies (0-3)
The Phillies opened their 2016 campaign with three-consecutive losses to Cincinnati. In that three-game series, the offense has been off to a slow start as it racked up just four runs combined in the first two meetings. But the Phillies seem to have found some spark at the plate, as they managed to rack up a season-high of six runs despite the eventual loss to the Reds in Game 3.
Maikel Franco and Ryan Howard will look to continue leading the charge on offense for Philadelphia. The two are hitting .300 and .333 respectively this season and have accumulated two homers and four RBIs combined.
Over on the mound, the Phillies will hope that Jerad Eickhoff can put on a show in his season debut. Eickhoff got eight starts in 2015, going 3-3 with an ERA of 2.65, a 1.04 WHIP and .212 opponents’ batting average. That stretch also includes three starts opposite New York, during which the 25-year-old righty went 1-2 along with a 2.70 ERA.
Philadelphia is 5-2 in its last seven games against NL East teams.
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Betting on the New York Mets (1-1)
New York kicked off the 2016 season by splitting two games at Kauffman Stadium. That includes Tuesday’s 2-0 win, where scheduled starter Noah Syndergaard logged in six scoreless innings and struck out a total of nine Kansas City batters.
Now, the Mets will be hoping to receive that type of performance from Jacob deGrom, who is set to take the mound in tonight’s home opener opposite Philadelphia. The former NL Rookie of the Year is coming off a solid 2015 campaign, during which he went 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA, a .98 WHIP and a .215 opponents’ batting average throughout 30 starts.
More importantly, deGrom’s been relatively successful when facing off with the Phillies. He is 2-0 with a 3.34 ERA across five career starts in this matchup.
On offense, meanwhile, Neil Walker’s delivered most of the goods thus far. In the first two games, he’s 2-for-8 along with a homer and three RBIs. But of course, Yoenis Cespedes will always be a threat despite going 1-for-7 in the same stretch. He is 11-for-39 (.289) with five homers and 10 RBIs in nine career games versus Philadelphia.
New York is 15-6 in deGrom’s last 21 home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Mets (-240) win, 4-0.
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