Baseball Odds – Phillies vs Marlins

Heading into this weekend’s MLB betting odds, the Phillies are coming off one of the most embarrassing weeks in the history of their storied franchise.

Not only did Philadelphia lose three straight games to their rival, the New York Mets, but they didn’t score a single run the entire series.

Can they recover as they head to Florida?

Philadelphia Phillies (26-20 SU, 25-21 R/L, 20-25-1 O/U) at

Florida Marlins (24-24 SU, 22-26 R/L, 24-21-3 R/L)

Saturday, May 29: 7:10 p.m.

Philadelphia: (Roy Halladay-R)

Florida: (Josh Johnson-R)

What’s most amazing about the Phillies recent offensive collapse is that by any measurement, they are one of the best offensive teams in baseball.

Their lineup features one of the best power hitters at the following positions: First base (Ryan Howard, eight home runs), second base (Chase Utley, 10 home runs) and right field (Jayson Werth nine home runs, team leading 33 RBI). Even after their series with New York, they’re still in the top 10 in baseball in runs per game (4.83), team batting average (.266) and home runs (50). So how did they go scoreless against New York? Nobody knows.

Luckily, even with their lineup in a funk, the Phillies will be buoyed by maybe the best starter in Major League Baseball, Roy Halladay. Halladay’s transition from the American League last year to the National League in 2010 has been virtually seamless as his record is 6-3, but he’s got just a 2.22 ERA.

His last start however, was his worst in a Phillies uniform, as he gave up six earned runs to the Boston Red Sox last Sunday, in a 6-3 loss.

Things won’t come easy for Halladay in this weekend’s baseball betting odds either, as he’ll be opposed by one of the top arms in the game in Josh Johnson. As impressive as Halladay’s stats are, Johnson’s are almost equally as good, as he enters this game with a 5-1 record, and an impressive 2.43 ERA.

Maybe even more striking is that over his last two starts, Johnson has pitched 13 innings without giving up a run, not exactly who the Phillies want to see right now.

As for Florida’s offense, it’s good, but hardly great, averaging 4.62 runs a game, on the season. Dan Uggla leads this team with 12 home runs, tying him for fourth in all of baseball.

So with two NL East rivals looking to duke it out for a win, who should you take in Saturday’s baseball betting odds? Make the Phillies your MLB wager.

Look, as bad as they were these last few games against Boston, there’s just no way that they can hit any worse than they did in New York. And even a minimal improvement will end with Philadelphia putting a few runs on the board.

And a few runs is all Halladay needs. Remember, in 10 starts, he’s already pitched four complete games, and coming off of a loss, it’s hard to see him leaving this game unless the Phillies have a comfortable lead.

Philadelphia is still the most complete team in the National League, even if they haven’t been playing like it of late.

Take them in Saturday’s betting odds.

Aaron’s Pick: Philadelphia Money Line