Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB Pick
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The NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies will try to maintain their distance against an Atlanta Braves team that has been chasing them down when the two meet in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday to play Game 2 of a three-game set.
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Date/Time: Saturday, July 9, 4:10 PM ET
Venue: Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia, PA.
Broadcast: FOX
Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies Betting Lines
Spread: Philadelphia Phillies -1.5
Over/Under: 8.5
It’s been another dream year for the Phillies. Three of the team’s starting pitchers are on this year’s National League All-Star team, including Saturday’s starter, Cliff Lee.
While having somewhat of an up and down season, he has performed very nicely since leaving the Texas Rangers this past off-season.
The lofty Lee extended his scoreless innings streak to 34 –the second longest in franchise history–before giving up a run in the third in Sunday’s 7-4 loss to Toronto. Lee, who went 5-0 with an 0.21 ERA in five June starts, had not lost since May 31 at Washington and came in having pitched three consecutive shutouts, before somehow managing to surrender a season-worst seven runs and 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings of work.
He has gone 9-6 this season with a four complete game shutouts. Those shutouts have dropped his ERA to 2.92. He is a strikeout (128) machine and doesn’t give many free passes (27).
And although the Braves are barreling toward the All-Star break with several legitimate candidates for National League MVP, they could struggle offensively against Lee as they are hitting just .239 as a team versus left-handed pitching.
However, one bright spot in the Braves’ lineup is catcher and indisputable candidate for National League MVP heading into the break, Brian McCann, who leads all NL catchers with 87 hits, 14 home runs, a .384 on-base percentage, and a .312 batting average.
Meanwhile, leading hitter Shane Victorino remained in Philadelphia while the Phillies finished their six-game road trip in Miami on Wednesday. Victorino suffered a sprain to his right thumb Sunday in Toronto and has missed three consecutive games. It’s uncertain if he will be able to return before the All-Star break.
That’s good news for Braves pitcher Tommy Hansen who will have his hands full with the rest of the Philadelphia hit squad that is batting .247, and led by Chase Utley who entered the series hitting .288 (15-for-44), going 2-for-5 in the Phillies’ 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Marlins on Wednesday.
Hanson should be up to the task, however, and could derail Utley’s 10-game hitting streak. In just 16 starts, he is 10-4 with a 2.52 ERA. He has 103 strikeouts in 96 1/3 innings and is the owner of the league’s best BAA. If you take away his two poor starts to open the season, and his time on the DL, his numbers may be even greater.
The odds makers have the Philadelphia Phillies as a -1.5 point favorite with an run total of 8.5.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Phillies- As good as Hansen has been pitching, and even with Victorino riding the pine, it’s hard to bet against Lee in this one.
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