New York, New York: Mets, Yankees meet in Bronx
New York, New York: Mets, Yankees meet in Bronx
It hasn't been a good start to the week for either team with the Mets dropping two of three at home to the Phillies while the Yankees were swept in Boston by the Red Sox. But none of that matters this weekend as the two Big Apple rivals get it on in a three-game set at the new playground in the Bronx. The Yanks are -220 favorites to win the series against a banged-up, injury-riddled Metropolitans bunch.
The great thing about handicapping interleague play is it gives us all a chance to get a handle on potential World Series matchups. Back in the day this wasn’t at all possible, and part of me wishes MLB would scrap the current schedule in favor of more games between division rivals.
Still, I can’t deny the opportunity for futures capping interleague provides, so it’s with interest I preview this weekend’s three-game series between the New York Mets (31-27, -0.14 units) and New York Yankees (34-26, -2.69 units) at Yankee Stadium.
Game 1 is slated for Friday night (7:05 PM ET), and features a battle between the Mets’ Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88 ERA) and the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79 ERA). Hernandez was moved up a day in the rotation to make the start in place of the injured John Maine, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with dead arm on Thursday. 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA over his last eight outings, Hernandez is 0-3 with a 6.37 ERA in his career against the Yanks.
Chamberlain has yet to cash a win at the new stadium this season (0-1, 5.48 ERA), but is favored in the opener nonetheless. The Yankees are priced as -210 favorites for Game 1, although they were available for as low as -200 at some betting odds outlets. The Mets are listed in the range of +170 to +190, with the total set between 10 and 10½ runs.
The Bronx Bombers are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, as the Yanks were outscored 17-8 in the series. The Yankees (-144) fell 4-3 on Thursday night, with ace C.C. Sabathia taking the loss after allowing four runs over seven innings. Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs for the Yankees, who are 0-4-1 O/U over their last five games.
The Mets dropped two of three games against the moneyline at home to the Philadelphia Phillies this week, although both defeats came in extra innings. Bobby Parnell was handed the loss in relief of Mets starter Tim Redding in their 6-3 loss in 10 innings to the Phillies on Thursday night as -115 chalk, while Carlos Beltran knocked in three runs in the loss. The Mets bullpen let bettors down in the series: The ‘pen put up a 5.03 ERA against the Phillies to raise their ERA on the season to 3.05.
The Mets roll into the weekend without Jose Reyes (hamstring), Carlos Delgado (hip), and J.J. Putz (elbow), and they could use the trio with Fernando Nieves (0-0, 0.00 ERA) taking the bump for Saturday’s Game 2 (4:10 PM ET). The Yankees counter with Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22 ERA), who is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA at Yankee Stadium this season. Pettitte will have to be on top of his game against the Mets, who are torching lefties with a .302 batting average against southpaws this season.
Sunday’s finale (1:05 PM ET) is the game bettors are talking about, with Johan Santana (8-3, 2.39 ERA) taking the ball for the Mets opposite the Yankees’ A.J. Burnett (4-3, 4.89 ERA). Santana has a bloated 5.21 ERA over his last three starts, and he’ll face a Yanks team that is an impressive 16-3 against the moneyline at home on Sundays. For his part, Burnett has been a disappointment for Yankees backers this season, with a 5.29 ERA on grass so far in 2009.
The Mets won the series 4-2 last season, and that includes a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium. Totals bettors eyeing the numbers on the series are likely to be leaning towards the over because of the homers currently flying out of Yankee Stadium. There have been 105 big flies at the new ballpark, putting the number of dingers on pace for 303 by season’s end. That would break the Coors Field record for homers in a season, set when 293 balls flew out of the park in Denver back in 1999.
Bettors expecting a Yanks letdown after the midweek series with the Red Sox should think again. The Yankees have been incredibly solid at bouncing back of late, with a 9-2 record against the moneyline in their last 11 games following a loss.
It hasn't been a good start to the week for either team with the Mets dropping two of three at home to the Phillies while the Yankees were swept in Boston by the Red Sox. But none of that matters this weekend as the two Big Apple rivals get it on in a three-game set at the new playground in the Bronx. The Yanks are -220 favorites to win the series against a banged-up, injury-riddled Metropolitans bunch.
The great thing about handicapping interleague play is it gives us all a chance to get a handle on potential World Series matchups. Back in the day this wasn’t at all possible, and part of me wishes MLB would scrap the current schedule in favor of more games between division rivals.
Still, I can’t deny the opportunity for futures capping interleague provides, so it’s with interest I preview this weekend’s three-game series between the New York Mets (31-27, -0.14 units) and New York Yankees (34-26, -2.69 units) at Yankee Stadium.
Game 1 is slated for Friday night (7:05 PM ET), and features a battle between the Mets’ Livan Hernandez (5-1, 3.88 ERA) and the Yankees’ Joba Chamberlain (3-1, 3.79 ERA). Hernandez was moved up a day in the rotation to make the start in place of the injured John Maine, who was put on the 15-day disabled list with dead arm on Thursday. 4-0 with a 2.81 ERA over his last eight outings, Hernandez is 0-3 with a 6.37 ERA in his career against the Yanks.
Chamberlain has yet to cash a win at the new stadium this season (0-1, 5.48 ERA), but is favored in the opener nonetheless. The Yankees are priced as -210 favorites for Game 1, although they were available for as low as -200 at some betting odds outlets. The Mets are listed in the range of +170 to +190, with the total set between 10 and 10½ runs.
The Bronx Bombers are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, as the Yanks were outscored 17-8 in the series. The Yankees (-144) fell 4-3 on Thursday night, with ace C.C. Sabathia taking the loss after allowing four runs over seven innings. Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs for the Yankees, who are 0-4-1 O/U over their last five games.
The Mets dropped two of three games against the moneyline at home to the Philadelphia Phillies this week, although both defeats came in extra innings. Bobby Parnell was handed the loss in relief of Mets starter Tim Redding in their 6-3 loss in 10 innings to the Phillies on Thursday night as -115 chalk, while Carlos Beltran knocked in three runs in the loss. The Mets bullpen let bettors down in the series: The ‘pen put up a 5.03 ERA against the Phillies to raise their ERA on the season to 3.05.
The Mets roll into the weekend without Jose Reyes (hamstring), Carlos Delgado (hip), and J.J. Putz (elbow), and they could use the trio with Fernando Nieves (0-0, 0.00 ERA) taking the bump for Saturday’s Game 2 (4:10 PM ET). The Yankees counter with Andy Pettitte (6-2, 4.22 ERA), who is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA at Yankee Stadium this season. Pettitte will have to be on top of his game against the Mets, who are torching lefties with a .302 batting average against southpaws this season.
Sunday’s finale (1:05 PM ET) is the game bettors are talking about, with Johan Santana (8-3, 2.39 ERA) taking the ball for the Mets opposite the Yankees’ A.J. Burnett (4-3, 4.89 ERA). Santana has a bloated 5.21 ERA over his last three starts, and he’ll face a Yanks team that is an impressive 16-3 against the moneyline at home on Sundays. For his part, Burnett has been a disappointment for Yankees backers this season, with a 5.29 ERA on grass so far in 2009.
The Mets won the series 4-2 last season, and that includes a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium. Totals bettors eyeing the numbers on the series are likely to be leaning towards the over because of the homers currently flying out of Yankee Stadium. There have been 105 big flies at the new ballpark, putting the number of dingers on pace for 303 by season’s end. That would break the Coors Field record for homers in a season, set when 293 balls flew out of the park in Denver back in 1999.
Bettors expecting a Yanks letdown after the midweek series with the Red Sox should think again. The Yankees have been incredibly solid at bouncing back of late, with a 9-2 record against the moneyline in their last 11 games following a loss.
