Big NL East Showdown – Mets vs. Phillies

BetOnline MLB betting odds: Phillies -115, Mets -105, Total 11

Michael Pelfrey of the Mets (2-0, 6.32 ERA), who has been one of a few struggling Mets starters, takes the mound for New York, while Chan Ho Park (0-0, 7.63 ERA) is the starter for the Dodgers.

Here are some of the MLB betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

(Numbers may go back to last season)

* NY has lost seven of its last 10 games

* NY has played four of its last six games UNDER the total

* NY has lost six of its last seven road games

* PHIL has won five of its last six games

* PHIL has won 15 of its last 22 home games

* PHIL has played four of its last five home games UNDER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* Six of the last nine meetings have gone OVER the total

* NY has won four of the last five meetings as the road team

* Four of the last five meetings in Philadelphia have gone OVER the total

Both of these teams had last night off. The Mets, after winning the first game of their three-game series against the NL East-leading Florida Marlins, dropped the next two to supply an end to the Marlins’ losing streak. Johan Santana was the hard luck guy on Wednesday, going seven innings but once again falling victim to conventional baseball wisdom which seems to be to yank a pitcher, no matter if he is your best, in favor of that "fresh" arm after six or seven frames. J.J. Putz took the loss as the Marlins scored twice in the 8th inning.

This is the start of a three-game weekend series in which the Mets could conceivably pass the Phillies in the standings with a sweep. Philadelphia is in second place, two games in back of Florida, while New York is in fourth position, 4.5 games off the East lead.

The Mets have been looking for answers in its starting rotation, and that is partially because Michael Pelfrey has been supplying plenty of questions. Though he hasn’t been as awful as people like Oliver Perez, Pelfrey has still been generous and at the same time lucky that the Mets have scored enough runs for him to win a couple of games. His last outing wasn’t terrible, though, as he limited Washington to two earned runs over 5-2/3 innings in the Mets’ 8-2 win. he wasn’t bad last time out against this Phillies team either, going seven innings and allowing two runs and four hits back on September 5.

Chan Ho Park has appeared in 15 games against the Mets in his career, and he has a 5-3 record with a 2.44 ERA and 1.05 WHIP ratio, so he hasn’t exactly been intimidated in any surrounding. This season he has not been at his best, however. In his last three starts he has gone 15-1/3 innings and allowed 13 runs, including four homers. Interestingly enough, though, the Phillies have won all three of those starts.

Two members of the Mets are expected to return to the lineup for Friday’s game. First baseman Carlos Delgado has been bothered with a hip injury and Luis Castillo has a sore back, but are both penciled in for action here. There has been some speculation that Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge will go on the disabled list with inflammation in his right knee, and there is doubt that he would be available for tonight. The Phillies need all the help they can get on staff that has the worst ERA in the National League. We’re going OVER the total of 11 runs as its is posted in the BetOnline National League baseball betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: OVER 11 (+105) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)