Yankees, Phillies ready to battle in World Series
It's a matchup we should have all seen coming back in the spring, and truly pits the top squads from the NL and AL against each other. The Philadelphia Phillies will defend their 2008 World Series title against the New York Yankees, the most storied franchise in the majors, starting Wednesday night in the Bronx, and each team will have their ace on the hill with Cliff Lee facing C.C. Sabathia in Game 1.
The last time the Yankees appeared in the World Series in 2003, both A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett pitched against them as members of the Marlins. Alex Rodriguez had just finished his last season in Texas, while Mark Teixeira had just played his first season in the big leagues as a member of the Rangers.
Six years is a long time in the baseball betting world, but New York’s roster still has tons of experience heading into its World Series showdown with Philadelphia beginning on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada were winning rings when the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Cole Hamels were bumming gas money from their parents to get to high school.
Normally, we’d like the Phillies’ experience as defending champs, but the Yankees have too much going for them this year. Look to wager Philadelphia as an underdog play in some spots, but expect New York to walk away with its first World Series title since 2000 when the smoke clears.
World Series: Philadelphia (+175) vs. NY Yankees (-195)
The worry following Saturday night’s rainout in Game 5 of the ALCS was that the Yankees might not be able to start CC Sabathia in the World Series opener. The Bronx Bombers avoided the hiccup by closing out the Angels in six games on Sunday night, cashing as -180 home favorites in their 5-2 win.
Sabathia (3-0, 1.19 ERA in the playoffs) gets the start in Wednesday night’s Game 1, while the Phillies have announced they’ll go with Cliff Lee (2-0, 0.74 ERA). As well as Sabathia has pitched in the postseason – he took home ALCS MVP honors – he’ll meet his match in his former teammate with the Indians. Lee has the lowest ERA in playoff history for starting pitchers with a minimum of three outings heading into the opener.
The Yanks’ big southpaw is the perfect foil for the Phils’ lefthanded-heavy lineup. Sabathia should also start Sunday’s Game 4 back at Citizens Bank Park, with Lee questionable to turn things around on short rest. Lee is the man right now – but he’s never thrown with only three days between starts. With Lee likely to have his second start in a potential Game 5 next Monday, Philadelphia will turn to one of Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66 ERA), J.A. Happ (0-0, 7.36 ERA), or possibly Brett Myers in Game 4.
That sets up Charlie Manuel to go with either Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) or reigning World Series MVP Hamels (1-1, 6.75 ERA) in Thursday night’s Game 2. Reports out of Philly have Manuel leaning towards Martinez.
Martinez shut out the Dodgers over seven innings in the Phillies’ 2-1 loss as +135 pups at Los Angeles in Game 2 of the NLCS, and he’s been impressive at Citizens Bank Park in his short stint with Philadelphia. The Phils are 8-2 against the moneyline in Pedro’s 10 starts this season (including the playoffs), but they’re 5-0 when he pitches at home. His ERA in those starts? A 1999-like 1.88.
Handicap the Phillies to go with Martinez and Hamels after Lee, with the Yankees keeping their existing postseason rotation intact. That means A.J. Burnett (0-0, 4.42 ERA) and Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37 ERA) in Game 2 and Game 3, with Sabathia in Game 4. After that, life gets a little touchier for Joe Girardi. Sabathia is his only starter that can throw effectively on three days rest, meaning Chad Gaudin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) could see his only start of the playoffs in Game 5. If not, Burnett and Pettitte would have to throw on short rest to close out the series should it get to that point.
Philadelphia took two of three when the teams met at Yankee Stadium in May, outscoring New York 15-11. The Phillies were a strong wager away from home this year, going 48-33 (+12.56 units) during the regular season. That makes them a sharp bet against the runline when the teams clash in the Bronx, not to mention the value Philadelphia presents against the moneyline on the road.
Oddsmakers opened the Yankees as -160 chalk for Game 1, with the total set at 8. The Phillies were priced as +150 underdogs.
It's a matchup we should have all seen coming back in the spring, and truly pits the top squads from the NL and AL against each other. The Philadelphia Phillies will defend their 2008 World Series title against the New York Yankees, the most storied franchise in the majors, starting Wednesday night in the Bronx, and each team will have their ace on the hill with Cliff Lee facing C.C. Sabathia in Game 1.
The last time the Yankees appeared in the World Series in 2003, both A.J. Burnett and Josh Beckett pitched against them as members of the Marlins. Alex Rodriguez had just finished his last season in Texas, while Mark Teixeira had just played his first season in the big leagues as a member of the Rangers.
Six years is a long time in the baseball betting world, but New York’s roster still has tons of experience heading into its World Series showdown with Philadelphia beginning on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada were winning rings when the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Cole Hamels were bumming gas money from their parents to get to high school.
Normally, we’d like the Phillies’ experience as defending champs, but the Yankees have too much going for them this year. Look to wager Philadelphia as an underdog play in some spots, but expect New York to walk away with its first World Series title since 2000 when the smoke clears.
World Series: Philadelphia (+175) vs. NY Yankees (-195)
The worry following Saturday night’s rainout in Game 5 of the ALCS was that the Yankees might not be able to start CC Sabathia in the World Series opener. The Bronx Bombers avoided the hiccup by closing out the Angels in six games on Sunday night, cashing as -180 home favorites in their 5-2 win.
Sabathia (3-0, 1.19 ERA in the playoffs) gets the start in Wednesday night’s Game 1, while the Phillies have announced they’ll go with Cliff Lee (2-0, 0.74 ERA). As well as Sabathia has pitched in the postseason – he took home ALCS MVP honors – he’ll meet his match in his former teammate with the Indians. Lee has the lowest ERA in playoff history for starting pitchers with a minimum of three outings heading into the opener.
The Yanks’ big southpaw is the perfect foil for the Phils’ lefthanded-heavy lineup. Sabathia should also start Sunday’s Game 4 back at Citizens Bank Park, with Lee questionable to turn things around on short rest. Lee is the man right now – but he’s never thrown with only three days between starts. With Lee likely to have his second start in a potential Game 5 next Monday, Philadelphia will turn to one of Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66 ERA), J.A. Happ (0-0, 7.36 ERA), or possibly Brett Myers in Game 4.
That sets up Charlie Manuel to go with either Pedro Martinez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) or reigning World Series MVP Hamels (1-1, 6.75 ERA) in Thursday night’s Game 2. Reports out of Philly have Manuel leaning towards Martinez.
Martinez shut out the Dodgers over seven innings in the Phillies’ 2-1 loss as +135 pups at Los Angeles in Game 2 of the NLCS, and he’s been impressive at Citizens Bank Park in his short stint with Philadelphia. The Phils are 8-2 against the moneyline in Pedro’s 10 starts this season (including the playoffs), but they’re 5-0 when he pitches at home. His ERA in those starts? A 1999-like 1.88.
Handicap the Phillies to go with Martinez and Hamels after Lee, with the Yankees keeping their existing postseason rotation intact. That means A.J. Burnett (0-0, 4.42 ERA) and Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37 ERA) in Game 2 and Game 3, with Sabathia in Game 4. After that, life gets a little touchier for Joe Girardi. Sabathia is his only starter that can throw effectively on three days rest, meaning Chad Gaudin (0-0, 0.00 ERA) could see his only start of the playoffs in Game 5. If not, Burnett and Pettitte would have to throw on short rest to close out the series should it get to that point.
Philadelphia took two of three when the teams met at Yankee Stadium in May, outscoring New York 15-11. The Phillies were a strong wager away from home this year, going 48-33 (+12.56 units) during the regular season. That makes them a sharp bet against the runline when the teams clash in the Bronx, not to mention the value Philadelphia presents against the moneyline on the road.
Oddsmakers opened the Yankees as -160 chalk for Game 1, with the total set at 8. The Phillies were priced as +150 underdogs.