MLB Picks: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Detroit Tigers

The Philadelphia Phillies are 5-2 in their last seven games as road underdogs of plus-110 to plus-150, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as they face off with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Courtesy of SBR Forum, the Phillies are plus-140 underdogs in the pro baseball odds, with the betting total sitting at eight in the market.

Let’s take a closer look at this interleague matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.

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MLB Picks: Chicago White Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are hitting just .228 at home against left-handed starters this season, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Friday, as they open up a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park.

Courtesy of SBR Forum, the Phillies are minus-118 favorites in the pro baseball odds, with the total sitting at eight in the market.

Let’s take a closer look at this interleague matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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MLB Picks: Washington Nationals vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 home games versus right-handed starters, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Monday, when they open up a four-game series against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on ESPN.

Courtesy of SBR Forum, the Phillies are plus-105 underdogs in the pro baseball odds, with the total sitting at nine in the market.

Let’s take a closer look at this National League East matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

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MLB Picks: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee is 15-8 with a 2.95 ERA in 34 career starts in April, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Thursday night as he prepares to take on the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Sports bettors will find that the Phillies are plus-115 road underdogs in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at seven in the market.

Let’s take a closer look at this National League East matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a pick along the way.

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MLB Picks: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has hit seven career home runs against Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Monday night, as the two teams face off at Turner Field at 7:10 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

Sports bettors will find that the Phillies are -102 road underdogs in the pro baseball odds (courtesy of SBR odds), while the total sits at 7.0 in the betting market.

Let’s take a closer look at this National League East matchup from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction on the total along the way.

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Joe Blanton: Philadelphia Phillies SP Has Been Lights Out at Citizens Bank Park

The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies will continue a three-game National League East series on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as minus-165 home favorites, while the total is holding steady at its opening number of 8.5.

Phillies starting pitcher Joe Blanton (3-3, 2.83 ERA) is coming off his best effort of the 2012 campaign, picking up a 4-0 shutout victory over the Atlanta Braves on the road. He scattered three hits and struck out six, while not issuing a single walk.

The right-hander enters with a perfect 2-0 record and 1.88 ERA in two home outings, as opposing hitters are batting .204 against him.

In nine career starts versus the Mets, Blanton has compiled a 3-1 record and 3.50 ERA, but was knocked around a bit in two no-decision efforts a year ago, allowing seven runs and 11 hits over 6.1 innings. New York first baseman Ike Davis has five hits in 11 at-bats (.455) against him.

Mets starting pitcher Miguel Batista (0-1, 6.92 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start of the year (11th appearance), as he was saddled with a 6-1 home loss to the San Francisco Giants on April 23 in his previous spot start.

In 26 career games (eight starts) versus the Phillies, the right-hander has put together an even 3-3 record and 4.42 ERA, but hasn’t earned a decision in six career games at Citizens Bank Park (3.46 ERA).

The Mets are 0-4 in their last four road games against the Phillies when Blanton’s on the mound, while the “over” is 16-4-2 in the last 22 meetings overall in this series.

Weather forecasts suggest isolated thunderstorms and game-time temperatures in the low 70s in the Philadelphia area, with 10-15 mph winds out of the south (out to left).

 

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports

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New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies: MLB Betting Odds and Preview

The New York Mets (15-13) and Philadelphia Phillies (14-15) will open up a three-game National League East series on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET on ESPN.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as minus-170 home favorites, while the total stands at 6.5.

Philadelphia returns home after posting a 3-3 record on their recent six-game road trip, which includes a 9-3 win over the Washington Nationals on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The “over” has cashed in four of the club’s last five games.

Phillies starting pitcher Roy Halladay (3-2, 3.40 ERA) is coming off a disastrous effort, allowing eight runs and 12 hits over just 5.1 innings of work in a no-decision effort that resulted in a 15-13 road loss to the Atlanta Braves.

The right-hander has a great opportunity to bounce back due to his 7-0 record and 1.68 ERA against the Mets since arriving in the City of Brotherly Love from the Toronto Blue Jays, including a 3-0 mark and a 0.41 ERA in three outings a year ago.

Sports bettors will find that the Phillies are 20-7 in Halladay’s last 27 series-opening starts, while the “under” is 5-2 in his last seven outings as a home favorite of minus-151 to minus-200.

New York won two of three against Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park in an earlier series from April 13-15, with the “over” going 2-1 in those contests. The Mets managed to win their last two home games against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, including a 3-1 victory on Sunday afternoon.

Jonathon Niese (2-1, 4.08 ERA) is certainly eager to get on the mound tonight, considering he tallied a 5-0 road win over the Phillies on April 14, tossing 6.2 shutout frames and allowing just five hits. He has compiled an even 4-4 mark and 3.58 ERA in nine career outings against Philadelphia.

The Mets are 1-4 in Niese’s last five road starts, with the “over” going 13-4-1 in that situation in the last 18 opportunities.

Weather forecasts suggest cloudy skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a south-southeast wind of 10-15 mph (right to left).

Total players will find that the “over” was 4-2 in those given wind conditions last year at Citizens Bank Park. 

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ESPN Sunday Night Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies (13-15) and Washington Nationals (18-9) will close out a three-game National League East series on Sunday night at Nationals Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 ET on ESPN.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Phillies as +105 road underdogs, while the total has held steady at its opening number of 6.

Philadelphia has dropped the first two games of this series, including a 7-1 setback on Saturday afternoon, which moved the club to 4-6 in day games this year. The Phillies will be glad to be facing a right-handed starter in this contest, as they’ve dropped six consecutive games against southpaws.

Cole Hamels (3-1, 2.78 ERA) is definitely a nice option to have on the mound when looking to snap a losing streak, leading the club to four consecutive wins since suffering a 6-2 home loss against the Miami Marlins in his season debut on April 9.

The left-hander boasts a perfect 2-0 record and 2.25 ERA in three road starts, issuing four walks and striking out 17 in 20 combined innings. Tonight will be his fourth straight outing away from Citizens Bank Park.

In 20 career games versus the Nationals, Hamels has compiled a 10-4 mark and 2.71 ERA, including a 2-0 record and 2.05 ERA in four career efforts at this ballpark. He has not surrendered a hit to former teammate Jayson Werth in six at-bats against him.

The Phillies are 9-1 in Hamels’ last 10 starts in this series, while the “over” is 22-7-1 in the last 30 meetings overall in the nation’s capital.

Washington is 8-1 in nine series this year, and is led by a starting rotation that has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 18 of 27 games. The group leads all of baseball with a 2.09 ERA.

Jordan Zimmerman (1-2, 1.89 ERA) has been a key member of the staff, as he looks to bounce back from his worst effort of the 2012 campaign, giving up four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 6.1 innings in a 5-1 home loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The right-hander is searching for his first win of the season in front of the home crowd, going 0-1 with a 2.21 ERA in three starts at Nationals Park, as he’s received just six runs of support in those contests.

Zimmerman will also look to notch his first victory against the Phillies, coming in with a 0-2 mark and 6.60 ERA in three outings. 

The Nationals are 5-12 in Zimmerman’s last 17 starts versus divisional foes, while the “under” has cashed in six straight games when he’s a home favorite.

Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-60s, with a slight 5-10 mph breeze out of the southeast (right to left).

 

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports

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Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview

The Miami Marlins (2-4) and Philadelphia Phillies (2-3) will close out a three-game National League East series on Thursday night inside Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Marlins as minus-115 road favorites, while the total stands at eight across the board.

Miami was handed a 7-1 loss in Wednesday night’s contest, which also served as the first of five games without Ozzie Guillen in the dugout.  The first-year manager was suspended five games by MLB for comments that he made to Time magazine about Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

The Marlins had split the first two games in the series. They own a 60-93 all-time record when playing in Philadelphia, including a 34-42 mark when playing inside Citizens Bank Park.

Mark Buehrle (0-1, 3.00 ERA) is use to the Guillen’s antics on-and-off the field, coming to South Florida after spending time together with the Chicago White Sox.

The left-hander will be making his second start for his new team, coming off a 4-0 road loss to the Cincinnati Reds on April 5, when he gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings of work.

Buehrle has a perfect 3-0 record and 5.06 ERA in three career starts versus the Phillies, but hasn’t faced them since Aug. 30, 2004. 

Bettors may fade the Marlins due to their starting pitcher’s dislike for cold weather, especially in-between innings as mentioned in a MLB.com article:

“I’d always rather throw when it’s hot and sweaty and come off the field after an inning or two when you’re actually sweating,” Buehrle said.

Philadelphia is definitely one of the toughest teams to beat in its own building, posting a 52-29 record a season ago, which was made possible due to a pitching staff that finished with a 2.83 home ERA.

Roy Halladay did his part to continue that success last night, tossing seven innings of one-run ball in collecting his second victory in as many starts this season.

The Phillies are hoping that Joe Blanton is able to build off that momentum, as he makes his second appearance (first start) of the 2012 campaign. He allowed one run on two hits and recorded just two outs in a relief appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 7.

Blanton has garnered a solid 6-2 record and 3.33 ERA in nine lifetime starts versus the Marlins. Including a 6-4 road victory in his only outing last year when he surrendered three runs on eight hits over five frames.

The betting public will definitely be drawn to the Phillies’ 20-8 record in his last 28 home starts.

Weather forecasts suggest game-time temperatures in the low-50s, with a slight northwesterly breeze of 5-10 mph (left to right).

Total players will find that the “over” was 14-10 in that situation during the 2011 season.

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