Philadelphia Phillies -270 (Halladay) -1.5 -135 v. Arizona +230 (Jackson) - o/u8

Today the Phillies look for their seventh consecutive win and send Roy Halladay to the mound in order to get it. They do face one of the Diamondbacks best starters, however, in Edwin Jackson, who also has a no hitter to his credit in this pitching dominant 2010 campaign. The Phillies have now put themselves within 3.5 games of the NL East and many of the baseball world had simply written them off and not just because of their completely disinterested play, lack of pitching depth, and struggling bullpen, but because of the dominance of the Atlanta Braves. That is all starting to change now. The Phillies are looking to recreate their standard, incredible second half and win the division for the fourth consecutive year. The Phightins are really starting to score some runs, finally have Werth swinging the bat well and clearly seeing the ball well, after his 2 walk, 2-run homer, plus a base hit night, and if he can start supplying a little bit of consistent protection for Howard (who, by the way, is second in the National League in base hits) the sky is absolutely the limit.
The Doc heads to the mound Wednesday night with an 11-8 record, 2.28 era, and a 7:1 k:bb rate. Halladay has once again been one of the best starters in his league, and if the Phils could start supplying the guy with just a hair of support, he would rarely get beaten. In his last four outings, Roy has 2 complete games, has allowed only 6 earned runs (and five of those six were in one start @ Wrigley), struck out 28 and walked only 3. The only problem, though, as it has been all season long, is that in those 3 wins of his last four starts, the Phils have scored a combined 10 runs.
Because Roy spent his entire career with the Blue Jays until this season, he only has two career starts versus the DBacks, but has had some success (as expected) against them, posting a 2-0 record. Expect success tonight.
On the flip side, Jackson has been less than stellar this season. In his last four outings, he has allowed 4-5-4-4 earned runs (respectively) and has not made it any deeper than 6.1 innings. The Diamondbacks have lost his last 3, two of which at home, and all by more than that 1.5 run line. Jackson has walked 13 in those last four starts, and won’t get any relief tonight, as the Phils have been fantastic at raising pitch counts, getting ahead, and drawing free passes. Just ask Ubaldo Jimenez.
If the Phils give Halladay just a smidge of support today, they ought to cover that run line with ease. And that is just going by the trends alone. No way does Jackson get the win in Philly, not with his wildness of late, the Phils patience at the dish, and Halladay taking the ball in opposition. They probably won't even compete tonight.
Jimmy Rollins probably will not start again tonight, however, after taking a foul ball off of his back foot on Monday. The x-rays were negative, so he won’t miss extended time. “They say bad things happen in threes...this is three...hopefully that’s it,” said Rollins, who has missed 56 games already this season due to injury. The Phils will absolutely need him if they are going to make a run at their third straight NL Championship, but can certainly weather the storm for the series versus the bottom-dwelling Arizona Diamondbacks, who are 19.5 back in the NL West. Especially since they have another serviceable (to say the least), switch-hitting, leadoff replacement in Shane Victorino. That is assuming he plays, of course. Shane left last night's game late with what seemed to be some sort of back or oblique/hip strain fielding a routine fly ball.
Play the Phillies -1.5 here today, play it with confidence, and feel free to go fairly large, unless no one plays for them. Check the lineup card before you lay your bet.

DAY GAMES! ::
CUB -149 (Wells) @ HOU +129 (Norris): The oddsmakers are giving you a nice break here after Myers beat Lilly in last night’s contest. I’m still trying to figure out how Lilly was the favorite. Wells has been great and the Astros are not, especially when Myers or the new Wandy isn’t pitching. Cubs.
CIN -136 (Wood) @ MIL +116 (Narveson): Another home dog, and another dog with no shot. Narveson stinks. Reds win this one, too.
MIN -140 (Duensing) @ KC +120 (Bannister): Yet again, the home team is the dog. That Twinkie offense has been unbelievable, but can it continue against Bannister this afternoon? Probably, but Bannister has been decent lately and this is only BD’s second start. The play is probably the Twins, but I’m just not sure.
BOS -110 (Beckett) @ LAA -110 (Piniero): This is the best matchup of the day games, and the line displays that. Flip a coin. Beckett went 5.2 in his first start back and allowed only one run. The Angels had won 8 consecutive Pineiro starts before he took the loss at Yankee Stadium, allowing 6 earned in 6 innings. Today though, Beckett and the Angels’ opposition is on the other coast. No play, just a spectator. But if you made me, I'd take the Angels.