MLB playoff odds – Brewers vs. Phillies betting set for NL slugfest
Posted on 9/29/2008 2:49:20 PM
By T.J. Kendrick
Brewers vs. Phillies betting: Milwaukee squeaks in to face Philadelphia
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WHO: Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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WHAT: National League Divisional Series, best-of-five games
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WHEN: Wednesday, October 1
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WHERE: Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia), Miller Park (Milwaukee)
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KEY STATS: Philadelphia has won five of six meetings with Milwaukee this season
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PICK: Philadelphia in four games
Milwaukee waited until the final day of the regular season, but the Brewers came up huge to take the National League’s Wild Card spot from the New York Mets. On Wednesday, the Brewers will kick off their best-of-five National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park, where they will face the Philadelphia Phillies, who won their second straight National League East title.
Both teams had solid World Series odds to begin with, and they are quite evenly matched, which could cause some difficulty while making Brewers vs. Phillies picks with your online sportsbook.
The Brewers will be making their first appearance in the MLB playoffs since 1982, but it didn’t come easily as they blew a 5.5-game lead on the Wild Card entering September. Milwaukee picked up CC Sabathia from Cleveland in midseason.
Last year’s AL Cy Young winner has a shot at the NL award this year after going 7-3 in 17 starts with an ERA of 1.65 and seven complete games, the last of which came in Sunday’s clincher against Chicago.
Sabathia and Ben Sheets powered the Brewers to the NL’s second-best ERA at 3.85, which could swing Brewers vs. Phillies betting in Milwaukee’s favor. Offensively, Ryan Braun followed up 2007’s Rookie of the Year award with an even better campaign, hitting .285 with 37 homers and 106 RBIs, but he slumped in September with the rest of his teammates.
The Phillies faced stiff competition from the Mets, but they won seven of their last 10 to pave their way into the postseason. If you’re MLB playoff betting, you can appreciate Philadelphia’s fourth-ranked ERA in the National League, led by the southpaw duo of 14-game winner Cole Hamels (24 years old) and 16-game winner Jamie Moyer (45 years old).
Ryan Howard had another MVP-caliber season with 48 homers and 146 RBIs, while Chase Utley and Jimmie Rollins also had good years. The Phillies were first in the National League in homers, and any team that can hit the long ball that well will have good World Series lines.
T.J.’s PICK: The Phillies have MLB playoff odds of +570, while the Brewers come in at +1200. Milwaukee’s cause has taken a big hit as pitcher Ben Sheets may miss this series with elbow trouble. Sheets was the Brewers’ ace before Sabathia came to town, and he’s had a long history of injuries throughout his career.
Beyond Sheets and Sabathia, the Brewers’ rotation doesn’t exactly strike fear in anyone, much less Philadelphia’s powerful lineup. The Phillies have won five of six meetings with the Brewers this season, and Philadelphia has more momentum heading into this series, not to mention more experience. For Brewers vs. Phillies betting, bet on the Philadelphia Phillies to win their first MLB playoff series since 1993.
BetOnline.com has all the MLB playoff betting you need, including game props and odds. For tips on World Series odds and Brewers vs. Phillies betting, visit the Bettor’s Edge daily.
T.J. Kendrick is the biggest baseball nut and a brilliant MLB handicapper. His love of the game borders on obsession, and he takes every chance he gets to make excellent predictions, frequently contributing to industry handicapping sites as well as BetOnline.com. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
