Arizona (15-6) at Philadelphia (14-7)
When: Tuesday, April 24th 2018
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Arizona, NBCS Philadelphia
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -109/8
Two teams that are off to solid April starts will open a three-game series Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Phillies are rolling right now with the help of seven-straight home victories to climb to within a half-game of the first place New York Mets entering Monday’s action. Philadelphia is off to their best home start (9-1) since 1964, while the Diamondbacks 15-6 overall mark matches its best start in franchise history. Aaron Altherr helped Philadelphia record its first four-game sweep of in-state-rival Pittsburgh since 1994 when he drove in Andrew Knapp with the winning run in the 11th inning of Sunday’s 3-2 victory. Odubel Herrera has reached base in a career-best 23 straight games overall and is 5-for-12 in his career versus Tuesday starter Robbie Ray. The Diamondbacks became the first National League team since San Francisco (2003) to win their first seven series of a season with a 4-2 victory over San Diego on Sunday. Center fielder A.J. Pollock is 5-for-16 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak. The Diamondbacks (2.75) and Phillies (3.01) rank 1-2 in the National League in team ERA, and Philadelphia is fourth in all of baseball in starters ERA (3.01). Arizona has dominated the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park recently, winning seven straight games by a combined score of 37-14.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks – Robbie Ray (2-0, 4.98 ERA) | Phillies – Vince Velasquez (1-2, 3.80)
Ray is coming off a solid outing versus San Francisco in which he allowed two runs and striking out nine in six innings, but came away with a no-decision – his second straight. Ray has allowed a home run in back-to-back outing and five total, while walking 14 in 21.2 innings this season. He has faced the Phillies four times in his career and owns a 2-1 record and 4.56 ERA.
Velasquez has recorded three-straight quality starts after struggling in his season debut, but suffered a 7-3 loss at Atlanta on Wednesday despite allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings. Velasquez pitched six or more innings just five times last season, but already has three in 2018. He has limited the Diamondbacks to just 2-for-21 hitting and 13 strikeouts, but Paul Goldschmidt is 2-for-2 against Velasquez.
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The Phillies pitching, not just their starters, are the reason why they are on a roll right now. After a rough start in Atlanta to open the season, the bullpen now owns a 2.20 ERA overall and 0.77 in their last three. Ray hasn’t looked sharp yet and does not have great numbers against the Phillies. I’ll take the home team.
Pick: Phillies -106
BETTING TRENDS:
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Diamondbacks are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 4-1 in their last 5 games following an off day.
- Diamondbacks are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. National League East.
- Diamondbacks are 13-5 in their last 18 overall.
- Diamondbacks are 13-5 in their last 18 games on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 5-2 in their last 7 road games.
- Diamondbacks are 12-5 in their last 17 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 7-3 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 20-47 in their last 67 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Diamondbacks are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 5-0 in Ray’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Ray’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Diamondbacks are 5-0 in Ray’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Ray’s last 4 Tuesday starts.
- Diamondbacks are 7-1 in Ray’s last 8 road starts.
- Diamondbacks are 6-1 in Ray’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Diamondbacks are 19-7 in Ray’s last 26 starts.
- Diamondbacks are 19-7 in Ray’s last 26 starts on grass.
- Diamondbacks are 5-14 in Ray’s last 19 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 games on grass.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Phillies are 12-1 in their last 13 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Phillies are 6-1 in their last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Phillies are 6-1 in their last 7 Tuesday games.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League West.
- Phillies are 13-3 in their last 16 overall.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Phillies are 8-2 in their last 10 games following a win.
- Phillies are 20-6 in their last 26 home games.
- Phillies are 19-7 in their last 26 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Phillies are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Phillies are 4-9 in Velasquez’s last 13 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Phillies are 3-7 in Velasquez’s last 10 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Phillies are 4-10 in Velasquez’s last 14 home starts.
- Phillies are 2-5 in Velasquez’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Phillies are 8-20 in Velasquez’s last 28 starts.
- Phillies are 7-20 in Velasquez’s last 27 starts on grass.
- Phillies are 2-7 in Velasquez’s last 9 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Phillies are 2-8 in Velasquez’s last 10 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Velasquez’s last 5 starts vs. National League West.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Velasquez’s last 5 Tuesday starts.
- Phillies are 1-5 in Velasquez’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 road games.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 6 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Diamondbacks last 7 Tuesday games.
- Over is 36-15-1 in Diamondbacks last 52 games following an off day.
- Under is 12-5 in Diamondbacks last 17 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-0 in Ray’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Ray’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 Tuesday starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Ray’s last 5 road starts.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Ray’s last 10 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 6-2 in Ray’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Over is 6-2 in Ray’s last 8 starts overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Ray’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
- Over is 11-5-1 in Ray’s last 17 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 13-6 in Ray’s last 19 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Phillies last 4 overall.
- Under is 3-0-2 in Phillies last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Phillies last 4 on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Phillies last 4 Tuesday games.
- Under is 4-0-2 in Phillies last 6 home games.
- Under is 4-0 in Phillies last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Phillies last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 9-2-1 in Phillies last 12 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-2 in Phillies last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Phillies last 5 games following a win.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Phillies last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Phillies last 8 vs. National League West.
- Under is 36-17-7 in Phillies last 60 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Velasquez’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Over is 9-0 in Velasquez’s last 9 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Velasquez’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Velasquez’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Velasquez’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Velasquez’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 6-2 in Velasquez’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 9-3 in Velasquez’s last 12 home starts.
- Under is 6-2 in Velasquez’s last 8 starts vs. National League West.
- Over is 5-2 in Velasquez’s last 7 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 10-4 in Velasquez’s last 14 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Diamondbacks are 7-0 in the last 7 meetings in Philadelphia.
- Diamondbacks are 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Philadelphia.
- Under is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings.
