[Jeff Grant]

The casual MLB fan is throwing some money on the underdog San Francisco Giants this morning, but the SBR odds page shows that the line is going the other way in favor of the Philadelphia Phillies

• Philadelphia has never lost eight straight games at CBP (current seven-game losing streak)
• SP Joe Blanton has the best winning percentage (17-5, .773) of any MLB pitcher after the All-Star break since 2008
• Blanton leads the NL in BB/9IP (1.22)
• Giants SP Barry Zito has a 4.17 BBs/9IP ratio, fourth-highest in the NL
• The Giants are 6-13 in Zito's last 19 efforts as a road underdog
• Zito's teams have lost both of his career efforts with umpire Manny Gonzalez behind home plate
• Blanton picked up a complete-game road victory over the Minnesota Twins in his only career start with Gonzalez behind the dish (9 IP, ER)

A five-inning play may be in order for the Phillies, especially with Zito's first-inning struggles this year

[Jeff Grant]

Hate pushing at five innings when the entire game is a winner