Houston Astros +154 (Myers) @ Philadelphia Phillies -174 (Blanton); ou8.5.

Today the fans of the Phillies will gather in Citizen’s Bank Park to watch a former Phil take the rubber for a team littered with Phils of old. The surprisingly successful 2010 campaign of Brett Myers arrives in South Philly for game one of a series set. The Phils fans will see familiar old faces in Michael Bourn and Jason Michaels, as well as their World Series winning third basemen Pedro Feliz and pitcher J. Happ, who was shipped in the Oswalt deal. Clearly the ties between the two clubs are directly related to the GM position held currently in Houston by Ed Wade, the former GM for the Phils. The same characteristics that he saw in the players that he brought to the Phillies are the same qualities that has returned them to his current collection.
I expect the Phils fans to give some love to their former fellows. After all, why wouldn’t they? They are all trapped in a bottom dwelling Central squad that poses no threat whatsoever to their beloved, rolling Phightin’ Phils.
Brett Myers (14-11, 3.11) is one of the really great stories for the Astros in 2010. Posting a winning record in 25 starts for a team that is 15 games under .500 is impressive. His numbers for this offensively anemic squad, which has sold away such important parts as Roy Oswalt (to Philadelphia, which we all know) and Lance Berkman and his knees (to the Bronx), were clear sellers at the deadline as they look to begin the rebuilding process. But Brett has kept chugging along, giving his squad a shot each and every time out. Myers has gone at least 6 innings in every single start this season. Myers’ ERA is ridiculous, and has posted a phenomenal 13:5 k:bb rate on the season. The Astros are coming off of a loss in Myers start to the Mets, in 3-2 fashion on the 18th of August, but in the 7 Myers starts leading up to that loss, the Astros were 6-1. Needless to say, Myers always gives his boys a shot at the win. Every single time he has taken the mound in the 2010 season, the Astros have had a serious chance at a victory. It would be foolish to expect anything other than that today, as Brett faces his old squad and knowing Brett, he certainly feels he has something to prove. This may not work in his favor, however, as he is a bit of a head-case. Perhaps the stage and chip on the shoulder gets to him. Time will tell.
The Phils send out Joe Blanton (10-10, 5.54) to get the first game of the series against the lowly ‘stros. The Phils have won 3 straight for UK Joe, and 4 of his last 5, but he is in the midst of an interesting trend. Blanton has alternated 4 earned and 2 earned allowed starts over his last five and he is due for the worse version tonight after coming off an impressive 6.1 IP 2 ER outing against the Wild Card contending San Francisco Giants. So, based on this little trend, it would seem that Joe would get blown up a little bit today. If he could just get out of the first inning unscathed, he would have an ERA almost 1run+ less. Fortunately for Joe, he gets the pleasure of taking on the Astro offense, which could be an easy thing to overcome at home. He will absolutely need his best stuff, though, and to get out of the first without a headache in order to settle down and get the win against Brett Myers. This is a must win series for the Phils, who will go into tonight expecting a sweep.
If you have an opportunity to place a series bet on the Phils, I highly recommend it.
I can’t turn my back on Myers’ success this season, and with the line as it is, this is clearly a gamble. But, afterall, that is what we are talking about.
I still like Phils today, especially at home, and in a series of this magnitude, in the midst of a playoff and division race at the end of August. The should have the opening day roster together today, finally, for the 9th time of the 2010 season. That’s another one for the Phils.
Play the Phillies and the over tonight in game one of the set against the Astros.
Best of luck.