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The New York Mets might be the best team in the National League thus far and they return home Friday to host the NL East-rival Philadelphia Phillies to open a series. The Mets are favored on the MLB odds behind Tylor Megill, who has been one of the league’s top pitchers.

How to Bet Phillies at Mets MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Citi Field
Probable pitchers (away/home): Aaron Nola/Tylor Megill
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Mets -120, Phillies +110 (total 7.5)

Why Bet on Philadelphia?

The Phillies completed a four-game sweep of visiting Colorado on Thursday with a 7-1 win. The Rockies were swept in a four-game series in Philadelphia for the first time since July 2010. The Phillies (10-10) moved to .500 for the first time since they were 3-3 on April 13.

Bryce Harper went 1 for 3 on the 10-year anniversary of his first big-league game. Harper was 19 years old when he played for the Washington Nationals against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Harper hasn’t played right field since April 16 due to a strained right elbow and won’t be back in the outfield anytime soon. If the NL didn’t have the DH now, Harper probably wouldn’t be able to play. Struggling Kyle Schwarber sat Thursday. After going hitless in his last two games, he’s now hitting just .164/.273/.388 on the year, though he does have four home runs.

Third baseman Alec Bohm is slugging .500 in 56 plate appearances, even after being robbed of an extra-base hit on a diving catch in the seventh inning by Rockies center fielder Randal Grichuk on Thursday. Bohm has two doubles, two homers, and leads the Phillies with 14 RBIs. He also is tied for the league lead with four sacrifice flies.

“For me, it’s [about] getting more on time,” Bohm said recently of an adjustment that he’s made with hitting coach Kevin Long. “Because the ground balls come from me being late and hitting the ball too deep. I think when I’m comfortable and on time, that’s when you see the ball start getting in the air more.”

It’s Aaron Nola (1-2) on the mound. Nola had his finest start of the season in a no-decision against the Brewers last Sunday night, allowing just one hit over seven innings of shutout baseball. The right-hander struck out nine on the night while issuing just one base on balls. The only hit against him was a two-out double off the bat of Tyrone Taylor in the third inning. Nola piled up 13 swinging strikes on his 89 pitches, leading to an elite CSW of 37 percent. The 28-year-old submitted an excellent 84 game score and lowered his ERA from 5.52 to 3.74 in the process.

Why Bet on NY Mets?

New York has a .700 winning percentage. That is the second-highest winning percentage in March/April in team history. Only the 1986 team at .813 (13-3) posted a better mark in March/April. The 2018 Mets set a team record with 17 wins in March/April, finishing the month 17-9 (.654).

The Mets already have six series wins. That surpasses the previous Mets record of five series victories to begin the year, held by the 2018 Mets. The last team to win their first six series to start the year was the 2019 Rays. Only four NL teams since 2012 have won each of their first six series of the year (2022 Mets, 2018 Arizona, 2012 St. Louis, 2012 Washington).

The Mets have committed only five errors. That is the second-fewest in the National League and tied for the fourth-fewest in the majors. The Mets rank second in the NL and fourth in the majors with a .992 fielding percentage.

New York was going for a sweep in St. Louis on Wednesday but had a three-game winning streak snapped in a 10-5 loss. Third baseman J.D. Davis was removed after he was hit by a pitch on his left ankle. X-rays were negative but he may miss Friday.

It’s Tylor Megill (3-0) on the mound Friday. Megill gave up two runs over 6 2/3 innings in last Sunday’s win over the Diamondbacks. Megill allowed five hits, issued a walk, and whiffed seven. He retired the first eight batters he faced before allowing a couple baserunners in the bottom of the third. The only runs against him came on a Christian Walker solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and a Nick Ahmed RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Through four starts (23 innings), Megill has a 2.35 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP and a 22/3 K/BB.

New York has won each of Megill’s last four starts. That is tied for the longest team winning streak in his outings in his career. New York also won the first four starts of his career (June 23-July 10, 2021). Megill pitched in Philadelphia on April 12 in a 2-0 win. He threw 5.1 shutout innings, did not walk a batter, allowed just three hits and struck out five.