MLB Betting – Phillies Continue Hot Start

The Phillies, winners of the first two games of the series, are a well-oiled machine of a baseball team looking to make another run at glory. The Nationals, not so much. Two games may not be enough to judge an entire season, but it could be another long one for Washington in 2010.

MLB Odds:
Philadelphia Phillies -150
Kyle Kendrick – R

Washington Nationals +130
Craig Stammen – R

Run Line
Phillies -1.5 EVEN
Nationals +1.5 -120

Total:
9.5 O -140
9.5 U +120

Location: Nationals Park – Washington, D.C.
Game Time: Thursday, April 8th, 2010 – 4:35 PM EST
TV: CSP, MASN

The Week That Was: Phillies

The Phillies were oh so excited to show off their prized offseason acquisition, Roy Halladay, in Monday’s season opener. A first inning run allowed by Halladay wasn’t necessarily in the playbook, but the rest of the game sure was. The Phils crushed the Nats 11-1. Doc finished with nine strikeouts in seven innings, even helping his own cause with an RBI single in the fourth, his second career RBI. However, Halladay’s debut may have been overshadowed by Placido Polanco’s return. Polanco spent three years in Philadelphia before jettisoning to Detroit. He returned to the Phillies in the offseason, and promptly recorded six RBI’s in the opener, including a grand slam, the second in his career.

Ryan Howard smacked his second homer in as many games as the Phillies doubled up the Nationals 8-4 in game two of the series on Wednesday. Cole Hamels, who is expected to have a bounce back season after disappointing many last year, pitched well enough to win, allowing two runs in five innings of work.

The Week That Was: Nationals

Just like many expected, the Nationals opened their season with a pair of losses to the defending NL Champions. On Monday, the Nats were hammered 11-1 in the opener. Their sole run came in the first inning, when Ryan Zimmerman doubled home Nyjer Morgan for the first run of the season. That was all the highlights that Washington could muster against new Phillies ace Roy Halladay. John Lannan, the de facto “ace” of the organization (at least until Steven Strasburg is called up), lasted only 3 2/3 of a inning, giving up five runs and walking three.

The Nats lost game two of the series on Wednesday by a score of 8-4. Jason Marquis, making his debut with Washington, lasted only four innings, allowing six runs and walking three. The offense was paced by Josh Willingham, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Shortstop Ian Desmond smacked a homer in the third, the Nationals first long ball of the season.

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The Matchup

The Nationals played it safe with Craig Stamman last year, and are expecting progress this season from the second-year pro. His numbers last year weren’t all that impressive, finishing with a 4-7 record, a 5.11 ERA and 48K’s in 105.2 innings. However, the organization began to trust Stamman as the season progressed, placing him the starting rotation as the season wore on.
It’s too early to tell if Stamman can last in the majors, but as long as he’s on a pitching thin team like Washington, he’ll have a chance to play.

The Phillies starter, Kyle Kendrick, is lucky to even be in this position to pitch. After starting his career with some promise, Kendrick regressed heavily in 2009 and was sent back to the minor leagues to work on his delivery. He had a pretty good spring this year, but not enough to make the big team out of camp. However, luck was on his side as Phillies starter Joe Blanton got hurt and was forced on the DL. Kendrick got the call and takes his spot as the third guy in the rotation. Blanton is out 3-6 weeks, giving Kendrick about 6 starts to prove he belongs in the big leagues.

MLB Betting Pick: Phillies