The Wild Card Round of the 2024 MLB Playoffs was all about the underdogs, as three teams defied the odds and earned road wins to advance to their respective division series.
Two underdog teams (Tigers and Royals) also advanced in a series sweep, but the Mets put fans on a roller coaster ride after blowing a 3-2 lead in the 8th inning of Game 2, finishing 2-0. Things started to pick up from the 9th inning. Despite being behind, they won the third game 4-2.
The Mets will face the Phillies in the NLDS series starting Saturday (4:08 p.m. ET, FOX). The Phillies won the regular season series with a score of 7 wins and 6 losses, and ace Zack Wheeler will start in Game 1.
We've identified the best bets with value on Saturday's Game 1.
Mets vs Phillies odds
| team | money line | run line | over/under |
|---|---|---|---|
| mets | +155 | +1.5 (-135) | o7.5 (+100) |
| phillies | -185 | -1.5 (+115) | u7.5 (-120) |
Mets vs. Phillies predictions
The Mets announced that Kodai Senga, who started just one game this season (July 26) and pitched 5 1/3 innings due to a calf strain, will play against Wheeler in Game 1. It shocked me.
With the second-best odds to win the National League Cy Young Award (+1000, DraftKings), there is no doubt that Wheeler is a quality pitcher.
But when he was on the mound facing the Mets, it wasn't necessarily a one-sided affair for the Phillies.
In his 15 career starts against the Amazons, Philadelphia is 7-8 with a loss of 2.82 units.
The Mets are very accustomed to playing against Wheeler since he moved to Philadelphia within the division. The current Mets player has a batting average of .281 and a slugging percentage of .421 in 171 at-bats.
Wheeler is known for his ability to make pitches efficient and last long in games. Therefore, the longer he throws, the more likely the Mets will scatter hits.
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The same was true for his start on September 22nd, when he pitched seven innings and allowed seven hits, including a home run to Brandon Nimmo.
This marks a streak of six or more hits in the last six starts against the Mets. He'll be well rested, so don't expect Phillies manager Rob Thompson to give him a hit right away unless he explodes.
Best bet: Mets get at least 4.5 hits against Zach Wheeler (-110, DraftKings)
Why trust New York Post Betting?
Michael Arinze handicaps most major sports for the New York Post. He has won two 15-leg teasers during his betting career, as well as 12-leg parlays, including eight games in the Little League World Series. Most recently, they accurately selected the finalists for the 2024 European Championship and Copa America.
