Apple TV+ will stream Friday’s interleague matchup and series opener between the Texas Rangers and New York Mets with the Mets favored on the MLB odds behind Chris Bassitt. Both teams will have full bullpens available as they were off Thursday.

How to Bet Rangers at Mets MLB Odds & TV Info

• When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
• Where: Citi Field
• Probable pitchers (away/home): Glenn Otto/Chris Bassitt
• TV: MLB Extra Innings
• Stream/gameday audio: Apple TV+; https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
• Opening MLB Lines: Mets -165, Rangers +155 (total 8.5)

Why Bet on Texas?

The Rangers haven’t been at .500 since they were 24-24. They had a chance to get back there on Wednesday but were upset 2-1 in Kansas City with a chance to sweep. Leody Taveras went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in the loss. It was his first homer of the season, though he has only 40 plate appearances at the big-league level. Taveras has gotten regular playing time in center field since being recalled June 13, and he has maintained a .289 average with five runs scored and a stolen base.Josh Smith went 0-for-4 Wednesday. Smith left Tuesday’s game with a calf injury but was back in the lineup at third base and leading off Wednesday. He’s typically in the starting lineup against right-handers, while Charlie Culberson slots in at third base against lefties.Lefty reliever Matt Moore allowed one hit and struck out one over two scoreless innings. In June, he has allowed just four hits while striking out 15 over 13.1 scoreless innings. The 33-year-old is part of a Texas bullpen that’s ranked ninth during the month of June with a 3.40 ERA.The Rangers are now 3-4-2 in last 9 series. The cub is 9-12-3 overall in series play in 2022, going 4-7-1 at home and 5-5-2 on the road. Texas is 9-8-3 in last 20 series after going 0-4-0 to open ’22. The team is 3-1-2 in last 6 series on the road after going 2-4- 0 in 1st 6 away series.It’s Glenn Otto (4-3, 5.31) on the bump. Otto he was ripped for six runs over two innings last Sunday in a loss to the Nationals. In the Nationals’ three-run first inning against Otto, five out of six batted balls had over a 100 mph exit velocity.Otto somehow managed to keep the ball in the yard, but surrendered six hits, and also issued three walks before departing. It was his first start since returning from the COVID-19-related injured list. Otto hadn’t given up more than two runs in his four previous appearances, so the 26-year-old rookie has shown the ability to play at the big-league level. While Otto has been solid since getting recalled on April 22, his underlying stats are all less than ideal. Per Statcast, Otto’s xERA and xwOBA are both in the bottom six percent of the league, while his xSLG is in the bottom 10 percent.“He’s obviously pitched decently for us this year,” Manager Chris Woodward said of Otto. “I don’t think he felt great during the time off. He’s still getting his legs under him. The next start, I think, is gonna be really important for him to get back out there and right the ship.”This will be Texas’ first game against the Mets since 2017.

Why Bet on NY Mets?

Some potentially good news for the Mets in that ace Jacob deGrom threw 27 pitches during live batting practice Wednesday. The live batting practice session was the third deGrom has thrown in just over a week, and he was able to increase his pitch count Wednesday from his previous two workouts. He could make a rehab start on Sunday with Single-A St. Lucie. The team’s other ace, Max Scherzer, is expected to return from his injury on July 4.The Mets were swept in a two-game set at home by Houston on Wednesday, losing 2-0. Justin Verlander pitched two-hit ball for eight innings and light-hitting backup catcher Jason Castro lined a two-run drive in the ninth for his first homer this season. New York is on its first three-game skid of the year. Mets third baseman Luis Guillorme had a dozen chances — two putouts and 10 assists. Guillorme’s 12 defensive chances were the most for a third baseman in the majors this season, falling three shy of Art Devlin’s 114-year-old Major League record.Guillorme has also proven to be a more effective hitter this season than he was earlier in his career, with his recent 1-for-16 stretch only dropping his season average to .305. Like most of his Mets teammates, Guillorme went hitless on Wednesday against Verlander (despite two hard-hit balls). The Mets are second in the majors with a .275 average with runners in scoring position. They rank fifth in MLB with a .346 OBP.Mets reliever Tommy Hunter has not allowed an earned run in his first seven appearances with the Mets, dating back to May 7, 2021. He has allowed one unearned run, six hits, three walks and struck out 11 in that span. Prior to Hunter, the last pitcher to start his Mets career with 12 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run was Addison Reed with 14.0 innings from September 1-30, 2015.It’s Chris Bassitt (6-5) on the mound Friday. Bassitt logged a quality start in last Saturday’s victory over the Marlins, allowing just three runs on six hits over his seven frames. The veteran right-hander struck out five and didn’t walk a batter. All of the damage done against him came via the long ball — with Jesus Sanchez crushing a two-run homer in the fourth and Bryan De La Cruz adding a solo shot in the fifth. Bassitt got seven swings and misses in the game while registering a 27 percent CSW.He has a 4.01 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the year. Bassitt’s 95 strikeouts are the fifth most in a pitcher’s first 15 games with the Mets, trailing only Pedro Martinez (117), Dwight Gooden (113), Noah Syndergaard (100), Al Leiter (96). Bassitt last faced Texas on Aug. 6, 2021, while with Oakland and allowed one earned run in 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts and zero walks. He is 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 58.2 innings vs. Texas career.

Game Trends

• Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
• Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
• Rangers are 13-39 in their last 52 games following an off day.
• Mets are 21-6 in their last 27 games following a loss.
• Mets are 20-6 in their last 26 during game 1 of a series.
• Mets are 9-2 in their last 11 Friday games.

Expert Prediction

• Mets 6, Rangers 3