LA Dodgers (55-44) at Philadelphia (55-43)
When: Monday, July 23rd 2018
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: SportsNet Los Angeles
NBCS Philadelphia
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -132/8.5
A pair of first-place teams will battle on Monday in the opener of a three-game set as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Los Angeles is coming off their first series with newly acquired Manny Machado – a guy the Phillies were in the hunt for – and won two of three in Milwaukee. Machado is 5-for-13 since being acquired from Baltimore while extending his on-base streak to a career high-tying 22 games. Veteran Matt Kemp, who homered twice in Sunday’s 11-2 triumph over the Brewers, 11-for-31 with six runs scored in his last eight games and has two dingers in just five at-bats versus Monday starter Zach Eflin. While National League West-leading Los Angeles has won six of eight, Philadelphia has reeled-off 12 of 18 to sit atop the NL East by a game over Atlanta. Home Run Derby semifinalist Rhys Hoskins went deep in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader against San Diego after being held without one since late June. This could mark the final three games longtime Phillie Chase Utley plays at Citizens Bank Park after announcing this will be his final season. The teams split a four-game series back at Dodger Stadium in late May. Phillies 1B Carlos Santana, who had an RBI single out of the leadoff spot Sunday, went 5-for-15 versus the Dodgers earlier this season.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Ross Stripling (8-2, 2.08 ERA) | Phillies – Zach Eflin (7-2, 3.15)
Ross Stripling is coming off his first All-Star appearance and has been terrific for the injury-plagued Los Angeles staff this season. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 3-2 win over San Diego prior to the midsummer classic and owns a 4-2 mark with a 1.81 ERA on the road. Aaron Altherr has homered among his three hits in six at-bats versus Stripling, although Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez are a combined 0-for-9 against the righty.
Eflin has a 6-0 mark and 2.32 ERA in his last seven starts but missed his last scheduled turn in the rotation due to a blister on his pitching hand. Eflin will come off the disabled list prior to Monday’s game versus Los Angeles, against whom he suffered his last loss on May 30th as he was tagged for five runs in four innings of an 8-2 setback. He is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers.
I like this as my Underdog of the Day as you can see in my video below. Eflin and Stripling have both been terrific, but the Phillies are one of the best home teams in Baseball and own the best winning percentage in one-run games (20-8). I can see this one being a tight affair.
Pick: Phillies +125
BETTING TRENDS:
- Dodgers are 4-0 in their last 4 Monday games.
- Dodgers are 14-2 in their last 16 during game 1 of a series.
- Dodgers are 13-3 in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 13-3 in their last 16 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Dodgers are 20-6 in their last 26 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Dodgers are 18-7 in their last 25 road games.
- Dodgers are 56-25 in their last 81 vs. National League East.
- Dodgers are 22-10 in their last 32 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Dodgers are 38-18 in their last 56 overall.
- Dodgers are 38-18 in their last 56 games on grass.
- Phillies are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 1 of a series.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Phillies are 11-5 in their last 16 overall.
- Phillies are 11-5 in their last 16 games on grass.
- Phillies are 35-17 in their last 52 home games.
- Phillies are 7-0 in Eflin’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 6-1 in Eflin’s last 7 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Phillies are 6-1 in Eflin’s last 7 starts.
- Phillies are 6-1 in Eflin’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Phillies are 4-1 in Eflin’s last 5 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 4-1 in Eflin’s last 5 home starts.
- Phillies are 6-2 in Eflin’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Phillies are 1-5 in Eflin’s last 6 starts vs. National League West.
- Under is 4-0 in Dodgers last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1 in Dodgers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Dodgers last 6 vs. National League East.
- Under is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Dodgers last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 9-3 in Dodgers last 12 overall.
- Under is 9-3 in Dodgers last 12 on grass.
- Under is 6-2-1 in Dodgers last 9 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 7-3 in Dodgers last 10 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 11-5 in Dodgers last 16 Monday games.
- Over is 4-0 in Phillies last 4 vs. National League West.
- Under is 7-1 in Phillies last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 7-1 in Phillies last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1 in Phillies last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 9-2 in Phillies last 11 home games.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Phillies last 21 overall.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Phillies last 21 on grass.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Phillies last 8 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-0 in Eflin’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Over is 10-1 in Eflin’s last 11 starts vs. National League West.
- Under is 6-1 in Eflin’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Under is 6-1 in Eflin’s last 7 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Eflin’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1-3 in the last 8 meetings in Philadelphia.
- Over is 4-1-2 in the last 7 meetings.
- Dodgers are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Philadelphia.
