Braves Phillies Betting – Phillies Look To Separate Themselves From Braves In NL West
After watching the Florida Marlins fall from grace, and the New York Mets battle inconsistency for most of the first half of the season, the two teams left fighting for the National League West title will play a three-game set this weekend. The Philadelphia Phillies will still be in top spot regardless of what the outcome is with their series against the Atlanta Braves, but how many MLB betting games they lead by only time will tell.
Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies
Friday, 7:05 PM ETThe Phillies should be able to put to rest any idea of being swept in the series opener on Friday, as the reigning NL Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay takes to the mound against Brandon Beachy. Halladay has been exceptional again this season at 11-3 with a 2.44 ERA, and has gone the distance in each of his last two starts. Philadelphia will rely on him to bring his best stuff against their biggest rival, and he will need it against a talented young righty in Brandon Beachy. Beachy is 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA, and his numbers aren’t much worse than Halladay’s over the past sports betting month.
MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies
Saturday, 4:10 PM ETThe scariest part about playing the Phillies is that after dealing with their staff ace, opponents still have to face three more pitchers that could be at the top of a good number of rotations throughout the league. Less than 24 hours after facing Halladay the Braves’ order will need to battle off Cliff Lee, who finished off June as hot as any pitcher in the history of the game, but struggled in his first July start. Lee had allowed just one earned run through five starts and was pitching on the heels of three-straight complete game shutouts when he was tagged for six earned runs by the Toronto Blue Jays last weekend, and will need to be much better than that against a talented Atlanta offense. Tommy Hanson has looked very good of late, and if he can do his part early on the Braves should be able to sneak one out.
MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies
Sunday, 1:35 PM ETEven though they were able to steal one from the Phillies with Lee on the mound, it doesn’t get any easier as youngster Vance Worley, who seems to have taken a sports betting bonus page from the veterans around him. The 23-year old has allowed just two earned runs in his last four starts, and with consecutive wins improved to 4-1 on the season. The Braves haven’t had that type of consistency from veteran Derek Lowe all season, and while he is capable of putting together some solid starts, he is still too prone to have those bad games in which he is picked apart. The Phillies will look to make a statement in front of the hometown fans, and winning this series will be crucial.
MLB Betting Pick: Philadelphia Phillies
