Weekend NLDS Baseball Playoffs Betting Update
The Phillies and Giants both opened their playoff series with dominant pitching performances as baseball betting chalk. Will that trend continue when the two NLDS resume Friday night?
Talk about announcing your presence with authority. Roy Halladay sure did that with his no-hitter in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday.
The Phillies cashed as -200 favorites on the betting odds board in the opener, and you get the feeling they effectively buried the Reds’ chances of a series upset with the victory.
Look, as a backer of the statistical revolution, I’m not ruling Cincinnati out after just one game. The Reds have the bats to bounce back in Game 2 on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park (6:07 p.m. ET, TBS).
Even for a stat guy it’s hard to ignore the effect Halladay’s historic gem has on the best-of-five set. All we heard heading into the NLDS is just how dominant Philadelphia’s starting pitching would be.
Halladay dropped the hammer on the explosive Reds in Game 1, and on the other hand, Cincy starter Edinson Volquez was seriously overmatched. The Phils scored all four of their runs in the first two innings to chase Volquez from the game. Halladay himself had one more hit than the entire Reds lineup.
It was a mismatch of epic proportions, and the current series prices reflect that. Oddsmakers have Philly as -600 chalk to advance to the NLCS, while Cincinnati is listed at +400.
The Phillies are also sizable MLB money line faves for Game 2 with Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.76 ERA) taking the hill opposite the Reds’ Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88 ERA). Philadelphia is available between -185 and -200, while Cincy is priced from +170 to +183 depending on the outlet.
The total is listed at 7, and it’s easy to side with the ‘under’ with Oswalt throwing for the Phillies. Oswalt has allowed one run or less in seven of his last eight starts.
Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday night at Great American Ball Park (7:07 p.m. ET, TNT) as Cole Hamels (12-11, 3.06 ERA) takes the bump against Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64 ERA).
Game 4 between Philadelphia and Cincinnati, if necessary, is set for Monday (5:07 p.m. ET, TBS).
Over in the other NLDS matchup, Tim Lincecum didn’t pitch a no-no in the San Francisco Giants’ 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their series on Thursday night, but he was just as dominant as Halladay.
Lincecum allowed only two hits in going the distance to earn the win, as he struck out 14 to go along with only one walk on the night. Cody Ross singled home the only run of the game in the fourth inning, and the Giants prevailed as -160 favorites at AT&T Park.
Derek Lowe gave up one run over 5 1-3 innings to take the loss for the Braves, who send Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.33 ERA) to the mound for Game 2 on Friday night (9:37 p.m. ET, TBS).
Hanson has a 0.48 ERA in his last three starts, but Atlanta is only 1-2 against the moneyline in those outings. The young righthander posted a 1.29 ERA in one start against San Francisco this season.
The Giants counter with Matt Cain (13-11, 3.14 ERA) on Friday night. Cain struggled in his trip to the bump last Friday against San Diego, but he’s been profitable for Giants bettors lately. San Francisco is 7-1 in Cain’s last eight starts.
The teams take a day off before the series shifts to Turner Field on Sunday afternoon for Game 3 (4:37 p.m. ET, TBS). Braves ace Tim Hudson (17-9, 2.83 ERA) looks to find his form, while the Giants turn to Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07 ERA).
Hudson would have got the call in the opener, but he ran out of gas down the stretch. The veteran sinkerballer has a 5.30 ERA in his last three starts.
Sanchez was San Francisco’s most profitable starter during the regular season. The Giants cashed in 22 of Sanchez’s 34 starts.
If needed, Game 4 of the set goes on Monday night (8:37 p.m. ET, TBS). Madison Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00 ERA) is the scheduled starter for San Francisco, while Atlanta has penciled in Brian Beachy (0-2, 3.00 ERA).
The Phillies and Giants both opened their playoff series with dominant pitching performances as baseball betting chalk. Will that trend continue when the two NLDS resume Friday night?
Talk about announcing your presence with authority. Roy Halladay sure did that with his no-hitter in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday.
The Phillies cashed as -200 favorites on the betting odds board in the opener, and you get the feeling they effectively buried the Reds’ chances of a series upset with the victory.
Look, as a backer of the statistical revolution, I’m not ruling Cincinnati out after just one game. The Reds have the bats to bounce back in Game 2 on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park (6:07 p.m. ET, TBS).
Even for a stat guy it’s hard to ignore the effect Halladay’s historic gem has on the best-of-five set. All we heard heading into the NLDS is just how dominant Philadelphia’s starting pitching would be.
Halladay dropped the hammer on the explosive Reds in Game 1, and on the other hand, Cincy starter Edinson Volquez was seriously overmatched. The Phils scored all four of their runs in the first two innings to chase Volquez from the game. Halladay himself had one more hit than the entire Reds lineup.
It was a mismatch of epic proportions, and the current series prices reflect that. Oddsmakers have Philly as -600 chalk to advance to the NLCS, while Cincinnati is listed at +400.
The Phillies are also sizable MLB money line faves for Game 2 with Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.76 ERA) taking the hill opposite the Reds’ Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88 ERA). Philadelphia is available between -185 and -200, while Cincy is priced from +170 to +183 depending on the outlet.
The total is listed at 7, and it’s easy to side with the ‘under’ with Oswalt throwing for the Phillies. Oswalt has allowed one run or less in seven of his last eight starts.
Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday night at Great American Ball Park (7:07 p.m. ET, TNT) as Cole Hamels (12-11, 3.06 ERA) takes the bump against Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64 ERA).
Game 4 between Philadelphia and Cincinnati, if necessary, is set for Monday (5:07 p.m. ET, TBS).
Over in the other NLDS matchup, Tim Lincecum didn’t pitch a no-no in the San Francisco Giants’ 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of their series on Thursday night, but he was just as dominant as Halladay.
Lincecum allowed only two hits in going the distance to earn the win, as he struck out 14 to go along with only one walk on the night. Cody Ross singled home the only run of the game in the fourth inning, and the Giants prevailed as -160 favorites at AT&T Park.
Derek Lowe gave up one run over 5 1-3 innings to take the loss for the Braves, who send Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.33 ERA) to the mound for Game 2 on Friday night (9:37 p.m. ET, TBS).
Hanson has a 0.48 ERA in his last three starts, but Atlanta is only 1-2 against the moneyline in those outings. The young righthander posted a 1.29 ERA in one start against San Francisco this season.
The Giants counter with Matt Cain (13-11, 3.14 ERA) on Friday night. Cain struggled in his trip to the bump last Friday against San Diego, but he’s been profitable for Giants bettors lately. San Francisco is 7-1 in Cain’s last eight starts.
The teams take a day off before the series shifts to Turner Field on Sunday afternoon for Game 3 (4:37 p.m. ET, TBS). Braves ace Tim Hudson (17-9, 2.83 ERA) looks to find his form, while the Giants turn to Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07 ERA).
Hudson would have got the call in the opener, but he ran out of gas down the stretch. The veteran sinkerballer has a 5.30 ERA in his last three starts.
Sanchez was San Francisco’s most profitable starter during the regular season. The Giants cashed in 22 of Sanchez’s 34 starts.
If needed, Game 4 of the set goes on Monday night (8:37 p.m. ET, TBS). Madison Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00 ERA) is the scheduled starter for San Francisco, while Atlanta has penciled in Brian Beachy (0-2, 3.00 ERA).