MLB matchup analysis

Phillies vs Mets Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Thursday, September 17, 2026 at Citi Field · 7:15 PM ET

Official Pick

LyDia prediction: New York Mets moneyline

Lab Rating
7.4/10
Model lean
Mets 67.7%
Market probability
54.4%
Model edge
+13.4%
Best moneyline
-124
Sportsbooks checked
8
LyDia model
67.7%
Market
54.4%

The case for New York Mets

Starting pitcher edge: 13 points
LyDia gives Nolan McLean a 13-point edge over Aaron Nola, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.92 vs 1.90) and ERA (3.24 vs 4.69).
Bats are hot: +0.038 wOBA
New York Mets is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Team strength favors Philadelphia Phillies
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's own team-strength model has Philadelphia Phillies ahead (50.2% to 46.5%). The pick still comes from New York Mets once the pitcher and bullpen terms are applied.

What to watch

Own bullpen carries risk: 7.0/10
The New York Mets bullpen comes in tired. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 6.35/10
LyDia's win probability for New York Mets (67.7%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 29.33/40
Nolan McLean rates 72 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 38.6/50
New York Mets's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Philadelphia Phillies's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 46.5%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes New York Mets 46.5% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 13 points
The pitcher-score gap favors New York Mets by 13 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.042
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward Philadelphia Phillies. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 46.5% -> 67.7%
Team strength alone had New York Mets at 46.5%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 67.7% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict LyDia backs New York Mets at -124. 67.7% to win against a market implying 54.4% - the model sees value and the setup clears every gate.
Read the full model output

New York Mets is an official moneyline pick because it clears both gates: 67.7% model win probability and 7.4/10 Lab Rating. LyDia projects 67.7% against a 54.4% no-vig market number, a 13.3% model edge at -124. New York Mets owns the starting pitcher edge by 13 points. Bullpen read: Elevated volatility. New York Mets's pen efficiency: Effective (6.5/10). Lineup check: New York Mets is swinging a hot bat (+0.095 OPS); Philadelphia Phillies is in a cold stretch (-0.052 OPS). Recent form supports this side and is included in the unified run projection.

Game information

MatchupPhiladelphia Phillies at New York Mets
DateThursday, September 17, 2026
First pitch7:15 PM ET
VenueCiti Field
Starting pitchersAaron Nola vs Nolan McLean
WeatherGame-time forecast: 73°F, 8% precipitation chance, 7 mph wind from SE.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Aaron NolaPhillies · RHP
vs
Nolan McLeanMets · RHP
MetricPhilliesMets
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅓5⅔
ThrowsRR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)5972
ERA (lower is better)4.693.24
WHIP (lower is better)1.371.18
K/9 (higher is better)9.29.9
K-BB% (higher is better)15.9%17.0%
K% (higher is better)23.9%26.5%
BB% (lower is better)8.0%9.5%
BB/9 (lower is better)3.13.6
HR/9 (lower is better)1.90.9
Ground-ball rate46.0%54.3%
Fly-ball rate54.0%45.7%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Nolan McLean a 13-point edge over Aaron Nola, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.92 vs 1.90) and ERA (3.24 vs 4.69).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Aaron Nola strikeouts
5.2 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · -0.3K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 5.5K · O +126 / U -148 · 5 books
Nolan McLean strikeouts
4.2 LyDia projected Ks
Official pick: UNDER 5.5K · -1.3K difference
Market 5.5K · O +114 / U -144 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Phillies are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 3.9 runs per game over the last 15 days; Mets are 5-5 in their last 10 and averaging 6.4 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Phillies carry the better run differential per game (+0.20 against -0.28).

MetricPhilliesMets
Last 104-65-5
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)6-4 on the road3-7 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6590.797
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.2930.348
Runs per game, last 15 days3.96.4
K% last 15 days (lower is better)20.8%18.1%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysPhilliesMets
OPS0.701 (-0.010 vs szn)0.733 (+0.031 vs szn)
Runs per game4.50 (+0.020 vs szn)4.81 (+0.531 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.3110.322 (+0.011 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)18.5% (-3.4% vs szn)20.8% (-1.6% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Mets have been the better offense, 0.322 wOBA to 0.311. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.011 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricPhilliesMets
Record84-6869-83
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.20-0.28
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.484.28
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.284.56
Season OPS0.7110.702
K% season (lower is better)21.9%22.4%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7090.712

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Phillies and Mets are highlighted.

Phillies
Combined risk
5.6 Normal
Fatigue
4.7 Normal
Efficiency
3.2 Below average
Mets
Combined risk
7.0 Tired
Fatigue
7.7 Tired
Efficiency
6.5 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricPhilliesMets
Fatigue4.7/10, Normal7.7/10, Tired
Efficiency3.2/10, Below average6.5/10, Effective
Combined risk5.6/10, Normal7.0/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days19.021.7
Back-to-back arms55
7-day ERA6.162.49
7-day WHIP1.740.97

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
8.4
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
2.8
Projected home runs
4.8
Over price
-118
Under price
+103
Philadelphia Phillies team total
2.8 projected
Line 3.5 · O -128 / U +106
Under research lean (-0.7)
New York Mets team total
4.8 projected
Line 4.5 · O +113 / U -140
No team-total lean

The model and market are close. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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