MLB Predictions Today: Odds & Betting Preview

The second half of the Major League Baseball season gets underway on Thursday, July 16 with a NL East matchup between the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies from Citizens Bank Park. It’s the only game on the MLB schedule with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. ET and television coverage provided by ESPN. Check out the latest MLB betting odds for this game at Prime.

Following a managerial change earlier in the season, the Phillies have moved up the standings into second place in the division. The Mets have struggled all year and also made a change in leadership, though the results so far haven’t been nearly as promising as Philadelphia’s. The Phils are 45-24 since Don Mattingly took over in late April. Our MLB daily predictions have the Phillies continuing their surge.

Today's MLB Games to Watch

If you want to watch a major league baseball game after the MLB All-Star break there’s only one option. The Phillies host the Mets in a NL East clash at the site of the All-Star Game, Citizens Bank Park. Several Philadelphia players participated in the game while all but one Mets player had a chance to forget about the awful first half and concentrate on putting forth a better effort going forward.

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Featured Matchups of the Day

• The Mets have a lot of ground to make up in the second half and the sooner they start the better their chances of making a run become.
• Winning within the division is critical, but seeing as New York is 16 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead, a wild card is a better option.
• The Mets enter the second half 12 games out of the third NL wild card spot while the Phillies are just 2 games behind Atlanta for the division lead.

Games Drawing the Most Betting Attention

• Several close division races and some surprising teams have added to the appeal of MLB betting this season. Philadelphia won four of the first six head-to-head meetings with the Mets and has won eight of the last 10 overall.
• With their success under interim manager Don Mattingly and playing at home, the Phillies are getting the most betting action.

MLB Predictions for Today's Biggest Matchups

The Phillies enter the contest as the MLB betting favorite, which aligns with their season-long records. Philadelphia is currently tied with the fourth-most wins in the NL boasting a 54-43 record. They entered the break on a positive note taking the last two games against Detroit for their first winning streak since the beginning of July.

The Mets closed the first half getting swept at home by the Red Sox. A rather insulting result since Boston entered the series five games under .500. New York is 6-10 under interim Andy Green with a higher losing percentage than it had under Carlos Mendoza.

Top Game Predictions

• Kyle Schwarber has put up good numbers in his career against the Mets blasting 25 home runs in 92 career games.
• Five of his MLB leading 32 home runs this season have come against New York pitching, including three dingers in a single game against three different Mets hurlers.
• Backing Schwarber to hit a big fly against a staff that’s yielded 107 on the year is a good bet.

Potential Upsets Worth Watching

• At one time Philadelphia’s probable starter Aaron Nola was the ace of the staff. He’s slipped the last two seasons and boasts a 5.75 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 97 innings in 2026.
• Nola gave up seven hits and three runs in 5.0 innings in a 6-4 loss to the Mets last month.
• New York can pull off the upset by getting to Nola early.

MLB Odds & Betting Trends Today

There are some key betting trends to note for this game that affect the MLB odds today. New York has been bad all season, suffering through a 12-game losing streak in April and not winning more than two consecutive games since June 1. Philadelphia turned their season around after the managerial change. The Phils were 9-19 when Mattingly took over, going 45-24 (.652) since.

Opening Lines and Market Movement

• The consensus opening moneyline favors Philadelphia with the Mets as an underdog.
• Early movement moved toward the Phillies due to their overall success  and New York’s failures

Betting Trends That Could Influence Today's Games

• The Mets have been a huge disappointment this year at 40-57 despite having one of MLB’s highest payrolls.
• Philadelphia has had the edge recently in this matchup winning 8 of 10 overall while going 7-1 in their last eight home games with the Mets.
• New York’s high road ERA and Philadelphia’s heavy-hitting lineup has the OVER trending up.

Best MLB Betting Picks Today

Philadelphia has struggled at home sitting at just four games over .500 at Citizens Bank Park. Improving their home record is essential for them to make a run at the NL East title. Since no team that lost at least 10 games in a row in a season has ever made the playoffs, the Mets’ season was essentially over in April. They will be looking to reset and play spoiler in the second half, which could make them a dangerous squad.

Best Moneyline Pick

• A lot of things are pointing to the Phillies making them the MLB betting pick on the moneyline.

Best Run Line or Total Pick

• The Mets have covered on the run line in the past three encounters, but look for the Phillies to change that on Thursday.
• The OVER has cashed six times with two pushes in the last 10 head-to-head meetings in Philadelphia.

Top MLB Best Bets Before First Pitch

As the only game on the slate coming out of the All-Star break, MLB bettors are eager to pounce on a few smart wagering options that have emerged. Philadelphia has put together a dominant stretch under Don Mattingly while the Mets are looking to get out of a major slide.

Best Bet of the Day

• Backing Philly on the moneyline is smart play as is backing them on the run line.
• The Mets are trusting young righty Christian Scott and Philly’s left-handed bats are eager to take their hacks.

One Value Pick to Consider

• One value pick that stands out is Philadelphia on the First 5 Innings Run Line.
• Mets hurler Christian Scott has worse splits on the road and facing a powerful Phillies lineup with left-handed mashers puts Philly near the top of MLB in runs scored in the first 5 innings.
• Philadelphia’s lineup is built to jump on young pitchers early.