Marlins vs Phillies – MLB Free Picks

Tonight at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Florida, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Florida Marlins play the opening game of a Memorial Day weekend three game series. The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to snap a five game slide in which we have seen them shutout in 47 of their past 48 innings. The Marlins hope the bats stay away for another 27 innings.

The MLB odds makers have set the Marlins the -125 favorite while the comeback on the Phillies is +105. The Game total is a relatively high 9½ runs. It’s high considering the offensive slump that Philadelphia has been experiencing.

MLB Betting Odds
May 28, 2010
Philadelphia Phillies +1½ -190 +105
Kyle Kendrick – R
Florida Marlins -1½ +160 -125
Chris Volstad – R
Game Total 9½
Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami FL
Game Time: 7:10 pm
TV: CSN, FSFL

The Phillies lead the National league in runs scored last season and the team is stacked with all-stars so it’s safe to assume that Philadelphia will break out of their offensive funk sooner rather than later. It’s common for professional ball players to suffer a hitting slump but it’s rare for an entire team to slump at the same time. The slump has been so bad that the Phillies lost three straight shutouts to the New York Mets. One positive for Phillies fans is that their boys are taking on a Florida Marlins team that has given up 15 runs in their last two games.

The Marlins send Chris Volstad to the mound with hopes of continuing the Phillies slump but he’s been in a slump of his own. Volstad has lost his last three starts with an ERA of 4.76 over that streak. His streak might be stretched to four if the Phillies Ryan Howard snaps his 2-for-18 slump and continues his hot hitting against Volstad. In 15 at bats against Volstad, Howard has hit .400 and 4 homeruns.

On the mound for the Phillies is Kyle Kendrick (2-2, 5.66 ERA) whose record against the Marlins is 2-2 with a 6.31 ERA.

Looking at the MLB Betting lines for this game, I don’t feel comfortable betting on the Phillies while they are deeply entrenched in this scoreless streak but the conditions are right for an offensive breakout game with slump-buster Volstad on the mound. Neither pitcher is going to dominate the game, so I’m going to take the over for about half my typical wager. The time is right for an offensive explosion.