NFL betting players know all about the stress of a playoff race, and a pair of teams who had high expectations coming into the 2010 campaign but are in danger of missing the postseason will wrap up a three-game set in Philadelphia on Thursday as the Phillies host the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Dodgers Phillies Betting – Thursday, August 12, 7:05 PM ET
College football betting players love to watch guys come along, and Clayton Kershaw (10-7, 3.19) is going to be a brilliant player to watch as his career progresses. But Kershaw ran into some problems in a 6-3 loss at home to Washington, allowing six runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out nine and walking two. Kershaw is now fifth in the National League in both strikeouts and walks, and once he learns how to harness his stuff, he could end up being a Cy Young candidate. The 22-year-old hasn’t fared that well against the Phillies in his career, going 0-3 in four starts with a 6.64 ERA, and he’s 0-2 at Citizens Bank Park with a 10.00 ERA.
Joe Blanton (4-6, 5.65) will be on the mound for the Phillies, and he was unfortunate to earn his sixth no-decision in his last 10 starts in a 7-5 win over the Mets, scattering a pair of runs on seven hits over seven innings with four strikeouts and no walks. Blanton has now given up three runs or less in seven of his last 10 starts, and he knows he’s going to have to pitch better to be a part of the Phillies’ postseason rotation, providing they make it that far. Blanton has faced the Dodgers four times in his career, posting a 1-0 mark with an ERA of 2.88.
MLB betting odds should have the Phillies as a favorite at home, even though the Dodgers took the first game of this series in a 15-9 shootout on Tuesday night. Kershaw is 4-4 in 10 starts on the road, posting a 3.02 ERA, while Blanton is 3-2 in nine starts at home with a 4.76 ERA. It’s very tempting to pick Kershaw and the Dodgers, but the kid is coming off a tough outing, and he seems to be the next version of the Yankees’ A.J. Burnett: great stuff when he can keep it under control, but when he doesn’t, it tends to get ugly, and quickly. Meanwhile, the veteran Blanton has been more consistent and as we said earlier, he’s been unlucky to take some no-decisions in some of his past efforts as he’s actually pitched well over the last couple of months. We’re going with the consistency of the Phillies here.
Gambling Advisor pick: Philadelphia
