Series Closes in Philly, Do the Division Hopes for the Braves Close, too?
Atlanta Braves +133 (Hanson) @ Philadelphia Phillies -153 (Oswalt); Total 7.5
The Braves will look to get away with at least one win in their series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Whether it is just bad matchup timing or being in over their heads, they Braves have had basically no success this week at Citizen’s Bank Park in a must win scenario. In game one, they just became another squad dominated in the second half by Cole Hamels, who appears to be back to his ’07-’08 form, going 5-0 in his last 5 with a 0.49 ERA. In game 2 they were a little closer, but fell victim to the National League’s first 20 game winner and Cy Young front runner, Roy Halladay. In the two opening games of the set, the Braves turned to starters who were making their first starts against the Phils. Today they will turn to another youngster, but one with a much more impressive resume and future. Tommy Hanson (18-13, 3.62) will face off against the red hot Phils, who have a 5 game lead. The Braves have won Hanson’s last two outings and three of four in the month of September, as he has alternated 7 and 6 inning outings in those four, allowing a combined 8 earned in those 26 innings. Hanson has also had a little bit of success against the Phils this season, with the Braves winning both of his starts. He did get into some trouble in his first start on 4/20, scattering 6 hits in 4.2, but dominated over 6.2 on the last day of May, getting the win and allowing just one earned. The Bravos have won both of Hanson’s starts against the Phils in 2010, but today he faces a much different team than he did in the first half of the season. Roy Oswalt (9-1, 15er in 69.2ip as a Phillie) will look to complete the sweep and bury the Braves, leaving their only playoff hopes being through the Wild Card race. Roy Oswalt has the best ERA in the majors over the past 6 weeks, and will look to out-do his fellow Aces who did their jobs in the first two games of the series. This Roy gets the chalk in the series closer, as expected, but gets (by far) the most difficult opponent. Today he faces an absolutely desperate Braves team, who has to find a way to win this game if they are going to have any chance whatsoever to force this race to the final series of the regular season, when the Phils head to Atlanta for a three game series that many thought would decide everything.
Oswalt has never gotten a win against the Braves in his career. He is 0-3 in 7 starts with a 7.58 ERA. If there was ever going to be a let down for the Phils, it seems that tonight would be the night. They have already taken the series from the Braves, have dwindled their magic number from 10 to 6 in 48 hours, and have this division race right where they want it.
Even though the division seems to be in hand for the Phils, they do have some other things to fight for. It would be even more amazing if they could somehow find a way to gain homefield throughout, which they are well on their way to doing, posting a 17-3 September record and a 9 game winning streak.
I suppose it would be foolish to bet against a team as hot as the Phils at home, with playoff implications and a starter on the hill who is as hot as is Roy Oswalt. I suspect he gets his first victory against the Braves in front of 45,000+, towel waving Phanatics.
if you have been on planet earth and have looked at what oswalt has done this year in august and september and in his career in august and september you would have to be the dumbest person on the entire planet to look even remotely in the direction of the braves here. this line is a total joke because the other team is named the braves. the line tonight should where last night's line was and it is not.
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Series Closes in Philly, Do the Division Hopes for the Braves Close, too?
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