The Phillies and the Mets will get together this evening to start a two game series at Citi Field in New York. The National League East contest, which will be featured on ESPN's Wednesday night baseball, is set to begin at 7:10pm ET.
Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets MLB Picks at Sportsbook.com have the Mets listed as a huge -240 moneyline favorite. The game total is set at 8.5 with the over receiving -120 odds.
The Phillies enter tonight's game on a three game win streak. They are fresh off a two game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis and are 8-2 in their last 10 contests. Their hot play has vaulted them past the Marlins and into first place in the NL East with a 14-10 record.
Philadelphia opposed the Cardinals two best pitchers, Kyle Lohse and Adam Wainwright, in their set in St. Louis but still posted 16 runs in the two games. They are now averaging over six runs per game on the season.
New York is also coming off a two game road sweep as they got the brooms out against the Braves in Atlanta. Despite the back-to-back wins, the Mets still find themselves a game under .500 (12-13) and in third place in the division standings.
Fifteen year veteran Chan Ho Park will toe the rubber for the Phillies tonight. To say that Park is off to a rough start would be an understatement. The South Korean is 0-1 in four starts and has garnered a 9.00 ERA in those appearances. He has pitched 20 innings as a starter this season and yielded 28 hits, 20 earned runs, five home runs, and 11 walks. Opponents are hitting at a .346 clip against him.
Park has already faced the Mets once this year and the results were horrendous. New York had eight hits and seven earned runs against the 35 year old in just 4.2 innings. Park walked six batters in the 7-4 loss and struck out just one.
Countering Park is New York ace Johan Santana. Santana has been extraordinary in his second year with the Mets, compiling a 3-1 record in five starts with a 1.10 ERA. The 30 year old lefty has allowed just four earned runs in 32.2 innings and has struck out 44 while walking just nine. Batters are hitting just .185 against him.
Santana has yet to square off against the Phillies this season, but he started against them five times last year. He went 2-0 in those outings with a 2.97 ERA. The Venezuelan walked six and struck out 32 in 36.1 innings pitched. The Mets were 3-2 in his five appearances against the Phillies.
Sportsbook.com Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets MLB Picks:
Philadelphia Phillies +1.5 (+100), Over 8.5 (-120), +210 (Moneyline)
New York Mets -1.5 (-120), Under 8.5 (+100), -240 (Moneyline)
Be sure to visit Handicappingtotals.com today to take advantage of the best in baseball handicapping. Handicappingtotals.com offers their exclusive Baseball Totals Guide as well as an in-season monthly newsletter that is guaranteed to give you the edge you need for the 2009 Major League Baseball season.
