The Los Angeles Dodgers are the MLB betting favorites tonight versus the Philadelphia Phillies, and with good reason. Not only did the Dodgers dispose of the Phillies 9-4 yesterday in the opener of their three-game set, but that made it three wins in a row for the LA team. According to the odds for fans who bet on baseball, they should make it four straight starting at 10:10 PM tonight at Dodger Stadium:
Phillies +1½ (-120) 7 (-120) +188
Dodgers -1½ (EV) 7 (EV) -205
Second baseman Chase Utley, who was traded to the Dodgers after 12½ seasons in Philadelphia, hit a home run in his first game against his former team. Come on Chase, tell us how you really feel. Corey Seager, and Yasmani Grandel also contributed home runs – Yeager twice, thus setting a franchise record from most homers in a single season by a shortstop with 21. Dodger starter Julio Urias surrendered three runs – two unearned – in five innings, but still picked up his first win at Dodger Stadium. On the other hand, Phillies starter Zach Eflin gave up three of LA’s four home runs and seven runs in three innings.
Eflin became the third Philadelphia starter since 2000 to surrender six or more earned runs in three straight starts. However, Phillies MLB betting fans should not worry too much about tonight’s starter, one of the best in the rotation. Vince Velasquez (8-3, 3.33 ERA) has a 2.85 ERA and has been striking out a batter per inning since returning from the DL on June 27th. The right-hander needs to reduce his walks, though. He has walked 13 batters in 24 innings in his previous four starts. Put another way, he has walked 17 and struck out 34 in his last 36 innings, whereas he walked 22 and struck out 80 in his first 66 2/3 innings. Velasquez is not entirely unfamiliar with the Dodgers, although a lot has transpired since his relief appearance on August 23rd, 2015 as a member of the Houston Astros. The LA outfit has also undergone changes, such as Yasiel Puig being downgraded to AAA, and Carl Crawford getting designated for assignment in June.
The Dodgers will also have one of their best starters take the mound tonight. Kenta Maeda (10-7, 3.22 ERA) got his 10th win of the season versus the Colorado Rockies. The Japanese has had 125 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings. The righty is only 3-5 at Dodger Stadium, albeit with a 3.17 ERA. Moreover, has never thrown against the Phillies, but is 2-2 with a 3.52 ERA in four starts versus NL East teams. Along with Scott Kazmir, Maeda is the only Dodger starter to have been in the team’s rotation all season long. Speaking of which, rehabbing starters Rich Hill and Brandon McCarthy are slated to throw bullpen sessions to find out whether they will make starts on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Dodgers MLB betting fans have been concerned about the fragility of the bullpen, in particular when it comes to Clayton Kershaw, but Maeda should have them covered, at the very least for the time being.
