With the Giants hot on their tales, the Los Angeles Dodgers will bring their 59-45 record to Philadelphia and look to take advantage of their series against baseball’s worst team. The Phillies are just 41-65.
Interestingly, however, going into Sunday the Phillies have been less of a disappointment for bettors this year than the Dodgers with the Dodgers’ total moneyline at -$795 and the Phillies’ at -$760.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Phillies are still the worst team in baseball based on their record and with their top starting pitcher, leadoff man and closer all having been dealt at the deadline, they’re weaker than they were during much of the year.
Still, despite that, the Phillies are playing inspired baseball and have won 12 of their last 15 games, though they did drop their series finale against the Braves on Sunday.
Even with their improved play, Philadelphia is only 25-43 in night games, though they’re now just a game under-.500 at home at 26-27.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, have struggled away from Los Angeles and are just 23-27 on the road, leading to their disappointing track record for bettors. They have, however, won three straight heading into Sunday.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Phillies are surging and the Dodgers bring a poor road record to the game, but the Dodgers have the edge on the mound.
Philadelphia ranks No.27 in baseball in team ERA and their starter on Tuesday has been one of their worst starters this year.
Jerome Williams is a veteran right-hander with a 5.91 ERA after two starts since returning from the disabled list. Overall, he has actually been worse and is just 3-8 with a 6.36 ERA and 1.686 WHIP over 80 2/3 innings.
While under most situations he would’ve long lost his job, the veteran provides innings for a Phillies team sorely lacking in those since the departure of Cole Hamels.
On the other side, the Dodgers will start one of their new acquisitions in Alex Wood.
This will be the former Braves’ first start for the Dodgers, but he will have a dose of familiarity in taking on the Phillies.
Against Philadelphia in his career, Wood is 3-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 44 innings, including seven starts and five relief appearances.
The 24-year old southpaw is 21-20 in his career with a 3.10 ERA. He’s 7-6 this year with a 3.54 ERA, but an inflated 1.408 WHIP.
QUOTE TO NOTE
Wood last pitched on July 27 in a masterful performance where he didn’t allow a run in seven and two-thirds innings against the Orioles.
Prior to the start, Wood and Braves’ pitching coach Roger McDowell had been working on some adjustments which Woods said he hoped would help moving forward. It sure helped on July 27 and as former manager Fredi Gonzalez said:
“The only thing I was worried about was the pitch count with Woody, because he was dominant.”
LIVE/SITUATIONAL BETTING
While the pitching is a clear edge for Los Angeles, the offense is another edge for the Dodgers though the Phillies bats have surged lately.
Los Angeles is averaging 4.14 runs per game while the Phillies are averaging just 3.68.
Even so, the Phillies do have the ability to score with Ryan Howard offering power with his 18 homers and 60 RBIs while Maikel Franco has been one of the National League’s best rookies given his .828 OPS.
If you add in the bat of veteran Jeff Francoeur along with youngsters Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez you have at least a handful of players with an OPS+ north of 100.
Of course, the Dodgers have far more above-average players at their disposal with 10 players with an OPS+ of at least 105. That said, their most prolific player based on OPS, Justin Turner, is on the disabled list.
Still, with Alex Guerrero and Enrique Hernandez the fill-ins with OPS numbers of .749 and .785 respectively, the drop off shouldn’t be too much evidenced by Los Angeles has plating 18 in its last three games.
PROP TALK
Keep an eye on Phillies’ shortstop, Freddy Galvis, in this one. Wood has had issues getting the scrappy middle infielder out as he’s 6 for 10 against the Dodgers’ hurler.
Of course, Galvis doesn’t bring much power to the plate. Of those six hits, only one has been for extra bases.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Phillies improved offense should keep them close, regardless of the lackluster pitching matchup. Despite their improved play of late, the Phillies likely don’t have enough to beat the Dodgers, particularly with Ben Revere in a Blue Jays uniform.
Plus, with Papelbon gone, Jeanmar Gomez and Ken Giles are the only reliable relief help for Williams who is unlikely to make it to the late innings with a lead anyway.
Los Angeles 7, Philadelphia 5
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Philadelphia Phillies will commence Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at 7:05 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
