Major League Baseball Odds – Phillies vs D’Backs

The Philadelphia Phillies are on a mission this season and anything less than a World Series championship will be a disappointment. Their march to the World Series continues with a visit to Arizona. They meet the Diamondbacks for a three game series at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The MLB odds makers are fans of the Phillies and their left-hander Cole Hamels, Philadelphia is the -190 favorite while the comeback on the Diamondbacks with Kris Benson on the mound is +160. The Phillies bats are probably the best in the National League and the MLB game total is 10½ runs to reflect that.

MLB Betting Odds

April 23, 2010

Philadelphia Phillies -1½ -120 -190
Cole Hamels – L
Arizona Diamondbacks +1½ Ev +160
Kris Benson – R

Game Total 10½

Location: Chase Field, Phoenix Arizona
Game Time: 9:40pm
TV:CSN

Philadelphia is easily the most dominant team in the NL, their combination of excellent pitching and huge run producers make it difficult for many teams to compete. Tonight’s pitcher Cole Hamels was the NLCS and the World Series MVP in the Phillies World Series win, in 2008. Last season was a letdown for Hamels as he finished 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA but even though it’s early, he looks like he has regained his 2008 dominance. Hamels is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA but it was his loss that has been his most impressive, he struck out eight and only allowed two runs over 8 innings but took to loss, as it was a rare shutout for the batters. Hamels has done well against the D-Backs, in three starts he’s 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA.

For fans the Phillies are sure bet but for gamblers it’s not as easy, despite their 10-5 record, Philadelphia has only made bettors 2.67 units so far this season due to them losing 5 despite heavy odds in their favor.

Arizona counters Hamels with Kris Benson, Benson best known for having a hot wife that threatened to sleep with his teammates if he ever cheated on her, is with the Diamondbacks after signing a minor league deal with the team. His only start this season was a loss to the Padres, Benson for his part did his job allowing two runs over 6 innings but like Hamels last loss, the batters just didn’t come through. The Diamond backs were expected to be better than their 6-9 record indicates and bettors that have stood by them are down 4.20 units.

The Phillies should win this game with relative ease; Hamels is a much better pitcher than the aging journeyman Benson is. Looking at the total, the Phillies have gone over the total in 12 of their last 14 against teams with a losing record. The Diamondbacks have a losing record. The total is still a little too high for my likely but those trends make it easier for me to pick the Phillies on the Runline -1½ -120. I don’t think this game will be that close and laying -120 is a lot better than -190 is what will be a high scoring game.

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