Phillies Baseball Betting Alert

The baseball betting odds in the Sportsbook have the Philadelphia Phillies listed at the lowest odds to win the 2011 World Series at +300. But what has been assumed most of the offseason has now been made official:  second-baseman Chase Utley is out for the start of the season.

Baseball betting experts are wondering how Utley’s absence could affect the baseball futures lines as well as the overall success of the team this season.

Some sources have stated that Utley may not return to action until after the All-Star Break.  His absence could significantly affect the Phillies’ season, or at least the first half of it. 

Utley has been suffering from knee pain for a while now, and the team has officially placed him on the DL list before Opening Day. 

Although the Phillies can fill his position in the field, the team doesn’t have another batter of his caliber to stand in meanwhile.  The shortage in the line-up could deal a blow to the Phillies betting odds.  Philadelphia will likely look to Wilson Valdez or Luis Castillo to step in, but neither player can contribute offensively in the way that the Phillies rely on Utley to do.

Despite a stellar pitching rotation affectionately called R2C2 (for Roy, Roy, Cliff and Cole), teams can’t win without offense. 

The Phillies will take the field on Friday at home against the Houston Astros for their first game of the season.  Keep an eye on the baseball futures odds to see what happens next with Philadelphia!