MLB Baseball Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies
The Arizona Diamondbacks haven’t been playing badly of late but they’re headed the wrong way in the NL West race. They’ve won six of their last 10 games but that isn’t even good enough to tread water in the division thanks to the furious pace set by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have been the hottest team in baseball over the past two months and they’ve opened up a 9.5 game lead atop the division. This series could be a great opportunity for Arizona to cut into the Dodgers’ lead-the Phillies have been struggling mightily this season while Los Angeles faces a tricky interleague set against the Boston Red Sox over the weekend. The Phillies have shown some marginal improvement since Ryne Sandburg took over as manager for the fired Charlie Manuel but they’ve still got some serious personnel issues. They’re currently in fourth place in the NL East just 2.5 games behind the third place New York Mets.
Philadelphia will start lefthander Cole Hamels in this game-after being one of the unluckiest pitchers in baseball for much of the season his form and his fortune are starting to turn around. On the season Hamels has a 3.61 ERA but the Phillies have managed to lose 16 of his 24 starts. Things have gotten a little better in his most recent assignments-he’s got a 1.96 ERA in his last three games, two of which were Philadelphia victories. Arizona will counter with their own talented lefthander, Wade Miley. Miley has been solid for most of the season but has also shown improved form of late with a 2.86 ERA in his last three starts-all Arizona victories.
Arizona is definitely the better team here and more importantly they’ve made money against left handed pitching this season. The Diamondbacks are 22-18 +5.9 units against southpaws this year. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has lost money against left handed pitching going 12-17 -6.4 units against southpaws. The Phillies have lost money across the board and in most situational spots including at home (-4 units) part of a 19.1 unit loss overall. The Diamondbacks are the better team, are in a favorable pitching matchup situation and have a greater sense of urgency as they try to catch the streaking Dodgers.
BET ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (MILEY) +110 OVER PHILADELPHIA (HAMELS)