Trying another blog here tonight, hope its a winner
Tonight the Philadelphia Phillies will play host to the Atlanta Braves in the series finale at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies have already taken the first 2 games of this series, winning with Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay on the mound. They won both of these games by 2 runs, winning by scores of 3-1 and 5-3, respectively. By winning these first 2, the Phillies have opened up a 5 game division lead over the Braves and a win tonight would all but clinch the division for the Phillies. With home-field also at stake in the playoffs, I think the Phillies will be going for the throat tonight and will try to knock off the Braves for the sweep. The Phillies are currently -151 favorites over the Braves tonight, with a run total set at 7.5 right now. My play will be on the side tonight in the Phillies to take the series sweep at home over the Braves.
Roy Oswalt will be taking the mound for the Phillies tonight and he has been absolutely dominant over his last 6 starts, giving up a total of only 6 earned runs in those 6 starts. His ERA in this period sits at a cool 1.25, while he has gone 4-0. He has also won his last 7 decisions, dating back to his last 8 total starts. Oswalt has really found his groove with the Phillies after coming over from the Astros in a trade. Pitching in the playoff race again has seemed to energize Oswalt, as his ERA is at its lowest point since May earlier in the year. Not to mention the Braves offense has been extremely cold with a 0.236 batting average in the last week. Oswalt should be able to contain these bats tonight and limit them to very little production.
Tommy Hanson gets the start for the Braves tonight. Hanson has also been pitching well of late, as he is 2-1 in his last 4 starts. He did give up some runs to the Mets in his last start. This start came on the road against the Mets, and Hanson seems to give up more hits on the road this year. His batting average against on the road this year is 0.253, as opposed to the 0.232 batting average against he has at home. He seems to struggle a little bit more on the road, but you can say that for the entire Braves team as well. Their road record is abysmal this year, with a road record that is 9 games under .500. I think the hot Phillies bats will get to Hanson at some point tonight, giving Oswalt plenty of run support for this game.
The Phillies come into this game riding a 9 game win streak, including the 2 wins over the Braves in this series. They have been red-hot during this streak, lengthening their lead over the Braves in the NL East race. The Phillies are also a great home team, with a 50-27 record at home this year. As good as they are at home, the Braves are equally bad on the road. They currently have a 34-43 record on the road and they hit at a much lower batting average on the road. I look for these trends to continue tonight as Oswalt should be able to stifle the Braves bats tonight. I look for the Phillies to win in a 6-3 type game tonight. Play the Phillies tonight to beat the Braves on the ML for Wednesday night.
Tonight the Philadelphia Phillies will play host to the Atlanta Braves in the series finale at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies have already taken the first 2 games of this series, winning with Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay on the mound. They won both of these games by 2 runs, winning by scores of 3-1 and 5-3, respectively. By winning these first 2, the Phillies have opened up a 5 game division lead over the Braves and a win tonight would all but clinch the division for the Phillies. With home-field also at stake in the playoffs, I think the Phillies will be going for the throat tonight and will try to knock off the Braves for the sweep. The Phillies are currently -151 favorites over the Braves tonight, with a run total set at 7.5 right now. My play will be on the side tonight in the Phillies to take the series sweep at home over the Braves.
Roy Oswalt will be taking the mound for the Phillies tonight and he has been absolutely dominant over his last 6 starts, giving up a total of only 6 earned runs in those 6 starts. His ERA in this period sits at a cool 1.25, while he has gone 4-0. He has also won his last 7 decisions, dating back to his last 8 total starts. Oswalt has really found his groove with the Phillies after coming over from the Astros in a trade. Pitching in the playoff race again has seemed to energize Oswalt, as his ERA is at its lowest point since May earlier in the year. Not to mention the Braves offense has been extremely cold with a 0.236 batting average in the last week. Oswalt should be able to contain these bats tonight and limit them to very little production.
Tommy Hanson gets the start for the Braves tonight. Hanson has also been pitching well of late, as he is 2-1 in his last 4 starts. He did give up some runs to the Mets in his last start. This start came on the road against the Mets, and Hanson seems to give up more hits on the road this year. His batting average against on the road this year is 0.253, as opposed to the 0.232 batting average against he has at home. He seems to struggle a little bit more on the road, but you can say that for the entire Braves team as well. Their road record is abysmal this year, with a road record that is 9 games under .500. I think the hot Phillies bats will get to Hanson at some point tonight, giving Oswalt plenty of run support for this game.
The Phillies come into this game riding a 9 game win streak, including the 2 wins over the Braves in this series. They have been red-hot during this streak, lengthening their lead over the Braves in the NL East race. The Phillies are also a great home team, with a 50-27 record at home this year. As good as they are at home, the Braves are equally bad on the road. They currently have a 34-43 record on the road and they hit at a much lower batting average on the road. I look for these trends to continue tonight as Oswalt should be able to stifle the Braves bats tonight. I look for the Phillies to win in a 6-3 type game tonight. Play the Phillies tonight to beat the Braves on the ML for Wednesday night.
