MLB Odds: Phillies Brace for Atlanta Braves
Just when it looked like the Braves were dead in the water, they pull off a road sweep. Atlanta still faces a major challenge this week on the raod as MLB betting underdogs in Philadelphia.
There’s a reason I’m an analyst and not a handicapper.
Heading into the Atlanta Braves’ weekend series with the New York Mets at Citi Field, I gave the visitors a chance at two wins at most, and offered up the potential for a three-game sweep for New York.
The reasons: The Braves are the biggest homer team in baseball, the Mets are solid at home, and the pitching matchups favored New York. I didn’t like the way Atlanta stumbled into the series after looking lackluster in dropping two of three at home to Washington.
What happened? The Braves (86-64 SU, +5.04 units) went ahead and pulled off a sweep of their own to roll into their three-gamer at Citizens Bank Park with the Philadelphia Phillies (89-61 SU, +6.73 units) three games behind the National League East leaders.
Atlanta is up 2½ games on San Diego in the NL Wild Card chase, and given the way Philadelphia is playing, that’s where the Braves should set their sights.
Yes, the Braves could still catch the Phillies for the division lead, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Is there a better team than Philadelphia? The Yankees are the best club in baseball until somebody takes them out, and the Rays are right there with them, but no one is hitting the diamond like the Phils.
It’s almost as if Philly traded for Roy Halladay in the offseason, and told everyone else to show up for the stretch run, Roy Oswalt included.
While the mainstream media focuses on the race in the American League East, and to a lesser degree, the logjam in the NL West, the Phillies have quietly emerged as the hottest bet on the baseball betting odds board.
Philadelphia has cashed eight in a row and 40 of its last 55 games against the money line to take control of the NL East, and is 26-10 in its last 36 games at Citizens Bank Park.
Much of the Phillies’ success is due to the emergence of the Halladay-Roy Oswalt-Cole Hamels triumvirate as the best 1-2-3 punch in the bigs. Halladay has been stellar all season, Oswalt is one of the most profitable starters in MLB since joining Philadelphia, and Hamels is having the best statistical year of his career.
Hamels (11-10, 3.01 ERA) takes the ball in Monday night’s series opener (7:05 p.m. ET), while Atlanta hands the reins to Jair Jurrjens (7-6, 4.64 ERA). The Phils’ lefthander has allowed only one run over his last 28 2-3 innings pitched, during which Philadelphia is 4-0 against the money line.
Jurrjens was one of the most under-the-radar starters last season, but a nagging hamstring injury and related inconsistency has the righty struggling to find his command. Jurrjens has a 6.32 ERA in his last three outings.
Oddsmakers opened Philly as a -165 favorite for Monday night’s contest, with the total set at 8. Atlanta was on the board at +145, but they were available for as high as +150 as of press time.
Halladay (19-10, 2.49 ERA) throws on Tuesday night (7:05 p.m. ET) for the Phils, as the Cy Young candidate looks to continue his dominance of the Braves. Doc is 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA in two starts against Atlanta this season, and has a 2.24 ERA in 16 home starts this season.
Mike Minor (3-1, 5.84 ERA) tosses opposite Halladay on Tuesday night, and it could be his last start of the season if he doesn’t have a decent performance. The young righty has a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
Oswalt (13-13, 2.90 ERA) aims to continue his winning ways in Wednesday night’s series finale (7:05 p.m. ET). Philadelphia has cashed Oswalt’s last nine starts dating back to the beginning of August.
The former Houston Astros’ ace toes the rubber against Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.62 ERA). Hanson has a 2.38 ERA in two outings against the Phillies this season.
The Braves lead the season series 7-5. The clubs have split six meetings at Citizens Bank Park, with Atlanta taking two of three when the teams met in Philadelphia in the previous meeting in July.
Just when it looked like the Braves were dead in the water, they pull off a road sweep. Atlanta still faces a major challenge this week on the raod as MLB betting underdogs in Philadelphia.
There’s a reason I’m an analyst and not a handicapper.
Heading into the Atlanta Braves’ weekend series with the New York Mets at Citi Field, I gave the visitors a chance at two wins at most, and offered up the potential for a three-game sweep for New York.
The reasons: The Braves are the biggest homer team in baseball, the Mets are solid at home, and the pitching matchups favored New York. I didn’t like the way Atlanta stumbled into the series after looking lackluster in dropping two of three at home to Washington.
What happened? The Braves (86-64 SU, +5.04 units) went ahead and pulled off a sweep of their own to roll into their three-gamer at Citizens Bank Park with the Philadelphia Phillies (89-61 SU, +6.73 units) three games behind the National League East leaders.
Atlanta is up 2½ games on San Diego in the NL Wild Card chase, and given the way Philadelphia is playing, that’s where the Braves should set their sights.
Yes, the Braves could still catch the Phillies for the division lead, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Is there a better team than Philadelphia? The Yankees are the best club in baseball until somebody takes them out, and the Rays are right there with them, but no one is hitting the diamond like the Phils.
It’s almost as if Philly traded for Roy Halladay in the offseason, and told everyone else to show up for the stretch run, Roy Oswalt included.
While the mainstream media focuses on the race in the American League East, and to a lesser degree, the logjam in the NL West, the Phillies have quietly emerged as the hottest bet on the baseball betting odds board.
Philadelphia has cashed eight in a row and 40 of its last 55 games against the money line to take control of the NL East, and is 26-10 in its last 36 games at Citizens Bank Park.
Much of the Phillies’ success is due to the emergence of the Halladay-Roy Oswalt-Cole Hamels triumvirate as the best 1-2-3 punch in the bigs. Halladay has been stellar all season, Oswalt is one of the most profitable starters in MLB since joining Philadelphia, and Hamels is having the best statistical year of his career.
Hamels (11-10, 3.01 ERA) takes the ball in Monday night’s series opener (7:05 p.m. ET), while Atlanta hands the reins to Jair Jurrjens (7-6, 4.64 ERA). The Phils’ lefthander has allowed only one run over his last 28 2-3 innings pitched, during which Philadelphia is 4-0 against the money line.
Jurrjens was one of the most under-the-radar starters last season, but a nagging hamstring injury and related inconsistency has the righty struggling to find his command. Jurrjens has a 6.32 ERA in his last three outings.
Oddsmakers opened Philly as a -165 favorite for Monday night’s contest, with the total set at 8. Atlanta was on the board at +145, but they were available for as high as +150 as of press time.
Halladay (19-10, 2.49 ERA) throws on Tuesday night (7:05 p.m. ET) for the Phils, as the Cy Young candidate looks to continue his dominance of the Braves. Doc is 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA in two starts against Atlanta this season, and has a 2.24 ERA in 16 home starts this season.
Mike Minor (3-1, 5.84 ERA) tosses opposite Halladay on Tuesday night, and it could be his last start of the season if he doesn’t have a decent performance. The young righty has a 9.00 ERA in his last three starts.
Oswalt (13-13, 2.90 ERA) aims to continue his winning ways in Wednesday night’s series finale (7:05 p.m. ET). Philadelphia has cashed Oswalt’s last nine starts dating back to the beginning of August.
The former Houston Astros’ ace toes the rubber against Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.62 ERA). Hanson has a 2.38 ERA in two outings against the Phillies this season.
The Braves lead the season series 7-5. The clubs have split six meetings at Citizens Bank Park, with Atlanta taking two of three when the teams met in Philadelphia in the previous meeting in July.