Phillies vs Marlins Odds - Road warrior Phillies will earn split in Florida

Baseball betting odds are giving Philadelphia a very good chance at defending their World Series crown, but Florida is pushing them in the National League East with the lowest payroll in the majors. The two meet at LandShark Stadium for a four-game set, and given the Phillies’ great road record, they’ll be able to take two on the road against the Marlins.

Phillies vs Marlins Odds – Phillies will leave Florida with East lead intact

• Moyer, Hamels sum season for struggling Philly hurlers
  
• Blanton, Johnson set for duel
  
• Happ, Miller could take beatings in series finale

Thursday, July 16, 7:10 PM ET
Jamie Moyer (8-6, 5.99) vs Chris Volstad (6-8, 4.44)

Only in Philadelphia could a pitcher that allows six runs on eight hits over five innings can earn a win, but that’s what happened to Moyer, whose team has averaged seven runs during his current four-game winning streak. Although he lost to Florida earlier this year, Moyer’s record is still a brilliant 12-2 in 14 starts with a 3.06 ERA.

Volstad is coming off his first career complete game, as he tossed a five-hitter during a 7-0 shutout on the road. Volstad came out on the winning end of the Moyer loss, a 5-3 victory for the Marlins in Philly, and he is now 2-1 in five starts with a 2.60 ERA against their NL East rivals. A fun fact: Moyer was just completing his first season in the majors when Volstad was born.

Baseball betting pick: Marlins

Friday, July 17, 7:10 PM ET
Cole Hamels (5-5, 4.87) vs Ricky Nolasco (6-7, 5.76)

The Phillies’ ace has been all over the place this year, and some think it’s because he threw over 260 innings last year. He gave up three homers while taking a no-decision in an 8-7 win over Pittsburgh just before the break, and now he goes on the road, where the opposition is hitting .352 off of him. He hasn’t fared that well against the Marlins, going 2-4 in eight career starts with a 4.15 ERA.

Nolasco got rocked in his last start, allowing seven runs in six innings of an 8-0 loss in Arizona, but at least he’s done well against the Phillies with a 4-3 mark in nine appearances (six starts) with a 4.15 ERA. Hamels got an extra day off, and this should give him the nod when it comes to making your sports betting picks.

Baseball betting pick: Phillies

Saturday, July 18, 7:10 PM ET
Joe Blanton (6-4, 4.44) vs Josh Johnson (8-2, 2.74)

Blanton gave up a single run in his last two starts before the break, and he’s already taken down the Marlins this year, striking out a season-high 11 batters to improve his career record to 3-0 against Florida, to go with a 3.18 ERA.

Johnson is coming off his first All-Star bid and he’s been a horse for the Marlins, coming in third in innings, fourth in ERA and eighth in strikeouts. He earned a no-decision against the Phillies this year, and he is now 3-1 in eight games (six starts) with a 3.66 ERA against them. Check your sportsbook for the posted total in this game because there won’t be many runs scored on Saturday.

Baseball betting pick: Marlins

Sunday, July 19, 1:10 PM ET
J.A. Happ (6-0, 2.90) vs Andrew Miller (3-4, 4.50)

Happ has been a revelation since coming out of the bullpen, and his numbers on the road are spectacular: a 3-0 mark in 10 games (five starts) with a 1.81 ERA. He’s only made three relief appearances against the Marlins in his career with a less-than-desirable ERA of 9.82.

Miller didn’t make it out of the third inning in his last start before the break, and he gave up four homers in his last three starts. The 24-year-old southpaw has already lost to the Phillies in 2008, dropping his record to 0-2 in eight games (four starts) with a 4.05 ERA. My prediction is that neither pitcher makes it past the fifth, but the Phillies’ bullpen is a little bit better, good enough for a win in your offshore sportsbook.

Baseball betting pick: Phillies

For more analysis of baseball lines and odds, check the Betting Edge at betonline.com daily.

Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball.