Atlanta Braves +190 (Minor) @ Philadelphia Phillies -230 (Halladay); Total 8.
As the Magic Number for the Phillies dwindled to just 8 after the huge victory in game one of this all-important September series set, it is now more than ever a must win situation for the Atlanta Braves. Not that it wasn’t a must win in game one, or really every game during the last several weeks of the season in a playoff/division race, but now that the Atlanta Braves find themselves 4 full games back of the two time defending National League Champions, they must find a way to get this one tonight if they are to hold on to any hope whatsoever at getting the East crown. That, however, will be no easy task.
Last night the Braves couldn’t solve the Cole Hamels puzzle behind Beachy who got a last second start due to a knee injury to the expected starter Jair Jurrjens. It’s not like Beachy got his brains beat in or anything, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) in 4+ innings, but Cole Hamels was just too strong, once again. Cole has allowed only 2 earned in his last nearly 4 full games. He is arguably the best pitcher in the game since the all-star break. Bobby Cox, who didn’t have the same luxury of setting his rotation to line up perfectly for this series due to several factors, will have to confidently look to another youngster to get a huge win in front of 45,000+ screaming, white-towel-waving Philly Fans.
Mike Minor (4-3, 5.84) will have to have his best tonight. He hasn’t had that over his last handful of starts, the Braves have lost 2 of his last 3, in which he lasted 14 innings and allowed 14 earned runs on 20 hits. He has been striking out his fair share of batters (41 in 37IP) and has walked very few (9), but he will need more of that and lots of run support tonight if he is to get his team back on the winning side of things.
It seems like the times of the Phils not supporting their amazing starters is long gone, as they continue to pound the ball in the month of September behind some the most ridiculous late-season lines put together by their three Aces. The Phillies are leading the National League in both batting average and OBP for the month of September, a month that they have historically dominated, and this season is no different. The Phils are 15-3 in the 2010 version. Tonight they will look to continue the trend against the rookie Minor, behind the front-runner for the NL Cy Young award.
Roy Halladay (20-11, 2.49) is first in the NL in strikeouts, innings, and wins, and will look to become the second pitcher in the majors to get his 20th tonight. Halladay has gotten hit around a little over his last 5 starts, allowing 17 earned over those 5, raising his season ERA to that whopping 2.49 and dropping him to second in the NL in that category. I, however, expect his best tonight. This is what he wanted. This is what the Doc was looking for right around the trade deadline in the 09 season. Roy just wanted to have a chance at a title. He knows the magnitude of this series and this game and after watching Hamels dominate game one, he will look to do-one-better and one-up his fellow red pinstriper.
This money line is a little lofty for baseball, and as Ive learned too many times this year already, anything can and will happen in the game of baseball. The -230 is a fantastic parlay piece, and it honestly should be safe alone with the importance of this game and the tilt in the pitching matchup. The Doc is one of baseball’s best competitors and he will have his best stuff tonight. He will do everything he can to get this victory single handedly. Tonight screams CG for the Doc (if it wasn’t for that dominant closer Brad Lidge, 2 ER since 8/1).
*The Phillies also really struggle offensively against young pitchers that they have never seen before. Ask that Beachy fellow, who was in the Instructional League over the weekend. They have never seen Minor, and he has strike out stuff. This could very easily be one of those sub 2 hour contests. If the ML is too lofty for your blood (even though the Phils are 15-3 this month) and you are afraid of the run line, the under tonight may be the play for you. I would be shocked if Halladay gives up more than 2 tonight. It just means too much and he has that Cy Young to lock up.
As the Magic Number for the Phillies dwindled to just 8 after the huge victory in game one of this all-important September series set, it is now more than ever a must win situation for the Atlanta Braves. Not that it wasn’t a must win in game one, or really every game during the last several weeks of the season in a playoff/division race, but now that the Atlanta Braves find themselves 4 full games back of the two time defending National League Champions, they must find a way to get this one tonight if they are to hold on to any hope whatsoever at getting the East crown. That, however, will be no easy task.
Last night the Braves couldn’t solve the Cole Hamels puzzle behind Beachy who got a last second start due to a knee injury to the expected starter Jair Jurrjens. It’s not like Beachy got his brains beat in or anything, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) in 4+ innings, but Cole Hamels was just too strong, once again. Cole has allowed only 2 earned in his last nearly 4 full games. He is arguably the best pitcher in the game since the all-star break. Bobby Cox, who didn’t have the same luxury of setting his rotation to line up perfectly for this series due to several factors, will have to confidently look to another youngster to get a huge win in front of 45,000+ screaming, white-towel-waving Philly Fans.
Mike Minor (4-3, 5.84) will have to have his best tonight. He hasn’t had that over his last handful of starts, the Braves have lost 2 of his last 3, in which he lasted 14 innings and allowed 14 earned runs on 20 hits. He has been striking out his fair share of batters (41 in 37IP) and has walked very few (9), but he will need more of that and lots of run support tonight if he is to get his team back on the winning side of things.
It seems like the times of the Phils not supporting their amazing starters is long gone, as they continue to pound the ball in the month of September behind some the most ridiculous late-season lines put together by their three Aces. The Phillies are leading the National League in both batting average and OBP for the month of September, a month that they have historically dominated, and this season is no different. The Phils are 15-3 in the 2010 version. Tonight they will look to continue the trend against the rookie Minor, behind the front-runner for the NL Cy Young award.
Roy Halladay (20-11, 2.49) is first in the NL in strikeouts, innings, and wins, and will look to become the second pitcher in the majors to get his 20th tonight. Halladay has gotten hit around a little over his last 5 starts, allowing 17 earned over those 5, raising his season ERA to that whopping 2.49 and dropping him to second in the NL in that category. I, however, expect his best tonight. This is what he wanted. This is what the Doc was looking for right around the trade deadline in the 09 season. Roy just wanted to have a chance at a title. He knows the magnitude of this series and this game and after watching Hamels dominate game one, he will look to do-one-better and one-up his fellow red pinstriper.
This money line is a little lofty for baseball, and as Ive learned too many times this year already, anything can and will happen in the game of baseball. The -230 is a fantastic parlay piece, and it honestly should be safe alone with the importance of this game and the tilt in the pitching matchup. The Doc is one of baseball’s best competitors and he will have his best stuff tonight. He will do everything he can to get this victory single handedly. Tonight screams CG for the Doc (if it wasn’t for that dominant closer Brad Lidge, 2 ER since 8/1).
*The Phillies also really struggle offensively against young pitchers that they have never seen before. Ask that Beachy fellow, who was in the Instructional League over the weekend. They have never seen Minor, and he has strike out stuff. This could very easily be one of those sub 2 hour contests. If the ML is too lofty for your blood (even though the Phils are 15-3 this month) and you are afraid of the run line, the under tonight may be the play for you. I would be shocked if Halladay gives up more than 2 tonight. It just means too much and he has that Cy Young to lock up.
