New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies: MLB Betting Odds and Preview

The New York Mets (15-13) and Philadelphia Phillies (14-15) will open up a three-game National League East series on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET on ESPN.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as minus-170 home favorites, while the total stands at 6.5.

Philadelphia returns home after posting a 3-3 record on their recent six-game road trip, which includes a 9-3 win over the Washington Nationals on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The “over” has cashed in four of the club’s last five games.

Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay (3-2, 3.40 ERA) is coming off a disastrous effort, allowing eight runs and 12 hits over just 5.1 innings of work in a no-decision effort that resulted in a 15-13 road loss to the Atlanta Braves.

The right-hander has a great opportunity to bounce back due to his 7-0 record and 1.68 ERA against the Mets since arriving in the City of Brotherly Love from the Toronto Blue Jays, including a 3-0 mark and a 0.41 ERA in three outings a year ago.

Sports bettors will find that the Phillies are 20-7 in Halladay’s last 27 series-opening starts, while the “under” is 5-2 in his last seven outings as a home favorite of minus-151 to minus-200.

New York won two of three against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park in an earlier series from April 13-15, with the “over” going 2-1 in those contests. The Mets managed to win their last two home games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, including a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Jonathon Niese (2-1, 4.08 ERA) is certainly eager to get on the mound tonight, considering he tallied a 5-0 road win over the Phillies on April 14, tossing 6.2 shutout frames and allowing just five hits. He has compiled an even 4-4 mark and 3.58 ERA in nine career outings against Philadelphia.

The Mets are 1-4 in Niese’s last five road starts, with the “over” going 13-4-1 in that situation in the last 18 opportunities.

Weather forecasts suggest cloudy skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a south-southeast wind of 10-15 mph (right to left).

Total players will find that the “over” was 4-2 in those given wind conditions last year at Citizens Bank Park. 

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