MLB Betting – Diamondbacks vs Giants Preview & Pick
It’s business as usual for the Philadelphia Phillies, who look like baseball’s best team far and away.
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Bet On MLB Baseball – Phillies vs. Giants Preview & Pick
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Venue: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Broadcast: FOX
Philadelphia Phillies at San Francisco Giants Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Phillies -140
Over/Under: 6.5
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Philadelphia Phillies (72-39 through August 4)
Cole Hamels (12-6, 2.62)
They’d won seven straight contests through Thursday. They already had the game’s top rotation, leading the majors in ERA, WHIP and quality starts.
Now, with Hunter Pence joining the lineup, the bats are catching up to the arms.
Pence hasn’t missed a beat since arriving via Houston in last week’s trade, batting .360 with a homer and five RBI in six games.
The Phillies’ improved offense is music to Cole Hamels’ ears. Though he’s been as good as any pitcher in baseball this season, allowing two or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 starts, he has a so-so 4-3 record and 4.38 ERA over nine career starts against San Francisco.
San Francisco Giants (62-50 through August 4)
Matt Cain (9-7, 3.10)
It’s gut-check time for the San Francisco Giants. The defending World Series champs are fighting the Arizona Diamondbacks tooth-and-nail for control of the National League West and the Giants appear to be wilting in the process.
Through Thursday, they’d lost six of seven. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The Giants’ pitching staff is just about the only one in baseball that can keep pace with Philadelphia’s but their anemic offense continues to weigh them down. During their 1-6 run, they’ve scored two runs or fewer five times. Trade-deadline acquisition Carlos Beltran is off to a ho-hum start, batting .265 with two RBI in eight games.
MLB Trends
PHI are 38-15 in their last 53 overall.
PHI are 12-5 in their last 17 Sat. games.
PHI are 39-18 in their last 57 games on grass.
Under is 10-4 in SF last 14 Sat. games.
Under is 30-13-1 in SF last 44 home games.
Under is 22-6-1 in Cains last 29 Sat. starts.
MLB Free pick:
Starter Matt Cain has to be sweating about Saturday’s matchup. He’s struggled historically against the Phillies, winning once in six starts, posting a 4.91 ERA and allowing seven homers over 33 innings.
Chase Utley in particular has Cain’s number, batting .389 with three homers in 18 at-bats against him.
Even if Cain keeps the Phillies in check – he did shut them out the last time he faced them – he may not get the run support he needs. The Giants just aren’t scoring on anyone right now.
Phillies vs Giants prediction: Phillies 4, Giants 3
