Mets vs. Yankees Subway Series Friday Betting Picks

The New York Mets (68-78) and New York Yankees (84-62) renew acquaintances on Friday night for the first of a three-game interleague series on the 25th anniversary of September 11th. RIP to the victims, always, and never forget. I know I never will.

The Mets have rattled off four consecutive victories, and while they’re still 10 full games out of the final wild-card spot in the National League, they haven’t yet thrown in the towel on the season, playing their best baseball of the season with 16 regular-season games remaining.

The Yankees sit atop the wild-card standings in the American League, 10.5 games clear of the final spot, while sitting three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. The Yankees have a plus-131 run differential, best in the AL, and third-best in the majors. New York is 40-31 at home, and like the Mets, the Yankees come in hot with three straight victories.

Inside Friday's matchup

These teams met at Citi Field from May 15-17, and the Mets took two of the three games, with the Over going 2-0-1 in the series, while going 6-0-1 across the past seven meetings in this heated Subway Series since May 18, 2025.

The Mets turn to RHP Nolan McLean (11-8, 3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) across 161 ⅔ IP in 28 starts. The North Carolina native has caught fire down the stretch, going 4-1 with a 2.34 ERA and 1.23 WHIP in his past seven outings across 42 ⅓ IP.

For the Yankees, they turn to LHP Carlos Rodon (5-3, 3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP) for his 14th start of the season. He has recorded 70 strikeouts across 64 IP, too. At home, while Rodon is just 1-2 in his five starts, he has a sparkling 2.92 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and teams are hitting just .191 against him in 24 ⅔ IP, while surrendering just two homers.

While the Yankees have been the better team in recent seasons, the Mets have a slight 5-3 edge in the past eight meetings, and the underdog has cashed in four of the past 10 meetings since July 24, 2024.

Best picks for September 11th

The Mets have registered a 20-19 record in interleague play, but they’re just 16-24 against left-handed starting pitchers this season. Meanwhile, the Yankees are 24-18 in interleague play this season.

We’re going to take a shot on the red-hot McLean and the METS (+118) as underdogs, while going UNDER 8 (-110) on the total in this Subway Series opener at The Stadium on this somber anniversary.