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Because their series last weekend was called off due to a few members of the New York Mets testing positive for the coronavirus, the Yankees and Mets will play a whopping five times this weekend. Here’s a look at Friday’s doubleheader, in which the Yanks will be MLB favorites in both but the home team in just one.

How to Bet Mets vs. Yankees MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, times TBD (doubleheader so likely 1 PM ET and 7:05 PM ET)
Where: Yankee Stadium
Probable pitchers (away/home): TBA
TV: MLB Extra Innings, MLB Network
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on NY Mets?

These teams were to play three games at Citi Field last weekend but those COVID-19 tests changed that. Instead, they will somewhat alternate as the home team this weekend (and Friday) with all games at Yankee Stadium. For one game of Friday’s doubleheader the Mets will be home and then one away. It’s not clear as of this writing which will be which.

The Mets will not have ace Jacob DeGrom in any of this five-game series because he pitched Wednesday vs. the Marlins. Coming back from the COVID-19-induced layoff, manager Luis Rojas opted to start Rick Porcello and Seth Lugo in Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Marlins and then go to deGrom on Wednesday.

Two possible for Friday are Michael Wacha (shoulder inflammation) and David Peterson (shoulder fatigue) as they may come off the injured list and rejoin the rotation after both completed bullpen sessions Monday. New York already has used nine starting pitchers this year. That matches the total number of starters that the Mets used in 2019. The franchise record for starters used in a season is 20 set by the 1967 Mets.

This doubleheader can’t possibly go worse for the Mets than Wednesday’s did vs. Miami as the Mets failed to score a run in a doubleheader for the seventh time in franchise history (last done August 5, 1975 vs. Montreal). They were swept in a doubleheader against the Marlins for the first time in club history. New York was 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the doubleheader.

The Mets played two twinbills in 2019. They Mets split a doubleheader with the Yankees in The Bronx on June 11 and swept a twinbill against the Fish at Citi Field on August 5.

Why Bet on NY Yankees?

The Yanks and Mets also will play a makeup game on Sept. 3 at Citi Field. These makeups leave the Yanks with just one off day in the final five weeks of the regular season — Monday, Sept. 14. So far, the Yanks have played two doubleheaders, splitting twinbills against the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays, and they have two more scheduled (including one Sunday). Due to the pandemic, doubleheader games this season are seven innings.

New York loves playing NL teams as the Yankees have posted a winning record in 19-of-23 seasons (19-3-1 overall) since Interleague play was established in 1997. The Yanks produced a winning record in 13 consecutive seasons from 2000-12, going 143-90 over that span. They have compiled a non-losing Interleague record in 20-of-23 seasons (5-10 in 1997; 9-11 in 2013; and 8-12 in 2016).

The Yankees activated slugger Aaron Judge off the injured list on Tuesday. Judge would have returned over the weekend if it wasn’t for the postponements with the Mets. He was off to a stellar start before going down. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, shortstop Gleyber Torres and DH Giancarlo Stanton are still on the injured list.

The Yankees put Luis Avilan on the 10-day IL on Tuesday with left shoulder inflammation. To take the left-hander’s spot on the roster, Miguel Andujar was brought up again from the alternate site in Scranton. Andujar has struggled this season, unable to adjust to his new role coming off the bench as a part-time third baseman and outfielder.

One pitcher is known as of now for the Yankees in Friday’s doubleheader, although not which game: JA Happ (1-1, 6.39). He hasn’t pitched since Aug. 16 when he tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a win over the Red Sox. It was the first win of the season for the veteran left-hander, who lowered his ERA from 10.29 all the way to 6.39.

Happ this week hinted that he believes the Yankees are intentionally limiting his starts for contractual reasons. Happ has a $17 million option for next season that will be triggered if he makes a certain number of starts or pitches a certain number of innings in 2020. Happ has made only three starts this season, totaling 12.2 innings.

“It actually doesn’t take too much to figure out sort of what could be going on,” said Happ. “I think I can help our team. I’d like to be out there every five days.”

Then again, Happ doesn’t put the Yankees in any position to succeed when he pitches. Since the start of last year, he’s pitched to a 5.02 ERA (5.47 FIP).

Expert Prediction

The teams split Friday’s doubleheader.