ODDS ANALYSIS
The Phillies have taken their lumps and will continue to get beat as their rebuilding shifts into full swing. This team is likely to have a different look after the trade deadline with Cole Hamels the biggest chip to deal. In the meantime the Phils continue to flounder while the prospects get their feet wet.
They were swept in a four-game series by Milwaukee, losing 8-7 on Thursday for the seventh time in eight games and remain the least profitable team in the majors down 18.05 units this season. The Phils dropped two of three in Atlanta in early May with the over at 2-0-1 in those games.
After going through a stretch where they won once in seven games, the Braves woke up and silenced the Nationals’ bats to take the final two of their three-game set. Atlanta squeaked out a 2-1 win Thursday, following a 4-1 victory on Wednesday to move within five games of first place in the NL East. The Braves scored just 18 runs in 10 games, hurt by the loss of Freddie Freeman, but the staff has responded. The under is 8-2 in those 10 games with the Braves surrendering just one run in each of their last three victories.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Kevin Correia (0-2, 3.60 ERA) had a so-so outing in Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing seven hits, three runs (one earned) and three walks while striking out four in 5.1 innings. Some sloppy defense behind him extended a few of his innings and his pitch count.
Correia has an extensive body of work against the Braves, tossing 51 innings in 13 games, nine of which were starts, with a 4-3 record and 3.88 ERA.
Alex Wood (5-5, 3.17 ERA) considered Sunday’s impressive effort in Pittsburgh to be his finest start of the season. He commanded his fastball on both sides of the plate and displayed an effective curveball while matching a season-high eight strikeouts over 7.1 scoreless frames.
Wood gave up nine hits and three runs in a home loss to the Phillies on May 4 and sports a 2.70 ERA in two outings against them this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I think it’s going to be a little longer. Not quite sure how much longer. It’s just not improving. They’ve tried a little different treatment on it. Hopefully one of those treatments works and gets him going. He’s frustrated. He’s pushing all he can to get himself back on the field.” – Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez on Freddie Freeman, who remains on the DL with an injured wrist.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
In his first few days on the job new Phillies manager Pete Mackanin made it known that it’s time for younger players to play a more prominent role in the teams rebuild process. The Phillies have begun to filter younger players into the lineup, with Freddy Galvis and more recently, Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez in the infield. But the pitching staff could use some help after finishing a disastrous month of June. The results were horrid. The starting rotation went 2-15 with a 6.39 ERA in 27 games, the fewest wins from a Phillies rotation in a month since a two-win June in 1997. It’s the highest ERA from a rotation in a calendar month since compiling a 7.42 ERA in June of 2006. Take away Cole Hamels, which could happen before the deadline, and the rotation had a 7.10 ERA last month.
PROP TALK
With the Phillies rebuilding phase underway, one of their top young players who’ll get a good long look from the club is Maikel Franco, who was called up to the show in mid-May. The big leagues haven’t slowed him yet as he carries a .305 average and was named the NL’s Rookie of the Month for June after hitting .352 with eight homers and 24 RBIs. He started July even hotter smacking three double with a pair of RBIs Wednesday. The youngster will get plenty of playing time and have his share of RBI opportunities batting in the middle of the Phils lineup.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Phils won’t win many more games this season, but that’s expected and acceptable as long as the prospects continue to develop. Likely sellers at the deadline, Philly could expedite the rebuild by bringing in some talent in exchange for their biggest trading chip Cole Hamels. The Phils will have to deal with all the uncertainty before the trade deadline, which could have an effect on their performance between the lines. The Braves took the final two from division leading Washington and are surprisingly just five games out of first place entering the weekend.
Atlanta 5, Philadelphia 2
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