Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies Betting Odds

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Philadelphia (-170)
Game Total Line: 7 Under (-125)
Run Line: Philadelphia -1.5 (+130)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The red-hot Atlanta Braves will look to close the gap with the Philadelphia Phillies in the division when these two NL East rivals kick-off a three-game weekend series at Citizens Bank Park. Tonight’s game is set to start at 7:05 p.m. (ET) and it will be available on MLB TV.

Atlanta’s 6-3 victory over Colorado yesterday as a 170 home favorite not only completed a four-game sweep of the Rockies, it was its ninth win in its last 10 games. The Braves have now pulled within 2.5 games of Philadelphia and have the second-best record in the National League at 53-26. They are 28-18 at home and 25-18 on the road.

Pitching has been down-right dominating for Atlanta this season with a NL-best team ERA of 3.02. It has given-up an average of just 2.5 runs per game over the last 10. The Braves’ hitting has been less than spectacular with a .240 team batting average but they have managed to average over four runs a game which has proven to be enough so far.

Brandon Beachy is slated to get the start for Atlanta tonight. He has only given up five earned runs in his last 17 innings since coming off the DL in mid-May. He is 3-1 overall with a 3.23 ERA in 11 starts this season. Beachy has struggled against the Phillies in the past with a 0-3 record and an ERA of 5.00.

Philadelphia has done its best to hold onto the lead in the East with seven wins in its last 10 games, but is coming off a 7-6 loss in extra innings to Florida as a 126 road underdog this past Wednesday. The Phillies still have the best record in the Majors at 55-33 and are 23-19 on the road and 32-14 at home.

This team has just about mirrored the Braves this season with an ERA of 3.05 and a .247 batting average, as the two are probably the most evenly matched ball clubs in the league. The Phillies’ lineup could take a hit tonight as Placido Polanco remains questionable with a pinched nerve in his back and Shane Victorino is doubtful with a sprained thumb.

Fortunately, Philadelphia will have its ‘ace’ Roy Halladay on the mound for this one. He continues to be the odds-on-favorite to repeat as the NL’s Cy Young Award winner this season with an 11-3 record and a 2.44 ERA in 18 starts. Halladay is coming off pitching two complete games in his last two starts; giving up a total of four earned runs. Lifetime against the Braves, he is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.65.

Atlanta is 15-7 this season as an underdog. The total has gone ‘over’ in seven of its last nine games, but is 41-42-6 overall.

Philadelphia is 45-23 as a favorite. The total has gone ‘over’ in five of its last six games, but is 39-41-8 overall.

Head-to-head this season, these two have already met nine times with the Braves holding a slight 5-4 edge overall and a 2-1 edge at Citizens Bank Park. The total has gone 3-4-2 in the nine games.

MLB Betting Pick

The pitching matchup in tonight’s game clearly favors Philadelphia, so stick with Doc and the Phillies to grab the early edge in this series with the win. Take the Phillies -1.5 +130 at 5Dimes and get reduced Juice and 5 Cent MLB Overnight Lines!!