Incendiary Phillies Send Hamels to Hill Looking To Handcuff Braves

After calling each of Philadelphia’s last four victories almost on the button for my beloved BetUS MLB Free Pick tonight!

The scorching Atlanta Braves (67-85, 75-77 RL, 67-81-4 O/U) in tonight’s series finale.

Hamels, an all-star in 2007, has been ‘lights out’ recently, limiting Philadelphia’s opponents to two runs or less in six of his last seven starts overall.

Hamels limited the Milwaukee Brewers to just two runs on six hits in 6.1 innings of Philadelphia’s 7-3 win on Saturday and has gone a perfect 2-0 with a 2.11 ERA in three starts against the Braves this season.

The Braves, losers of two straight and three of four, will counter with veteran left-hander

Mike Hampton (2-2, 5.34 ERA), who is also coming off a respectable performance his last time on the mound after limiting the New York Mets to just two runs and six hits in six innings of Atlanta’s 3-2 win on Saturday.

The Phillies, now 1/2 game ahead of the Mets in the NL East, have seen their prolific batting order heat up in a big way over their last six games, led by 2006 NL MVP Ryan Howard, who is suddenly making another strong case for winning his second career MVP award.

Howard has driven in 29 runs in his last 21 games and leads all major leaguers with 137 for the season.

Howard is hitting a blistering .373 (22-for-59) with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 14 games against the Braves this season.

"I don't know how to explain it," Braves right fielder Jeff Francoeur told the team's official Web site. "Last year we won all three games (in Philadelphia) to start the year, and since then I don't think we've won a series against them."

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones went 1-for-3 on Wednesday and is hitting .365, an 11-point lead over St. Louis Cardinals superstar first baseman Albert Pujols.

Here is a look at tonight’s key MLB online betting Free Picks.

The Phillies are 24-3 in Hamels' last 27 starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Phillies are 12-2 in Hamels' last 14 road starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Braves are 2-5 in Reyes' last seven starts during game three of a series.

The Braves are 2-5 in Reyes' last seven starts with four days of rest.

The Under is 4-0 in Hamels' last four road starts vs. a team with a losing record.

The Over is 4-0 in Reyes' last four starts following a team loss in their previous game.

The Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

The Phillies are 6-0 in Hamels' last six starts vs. Braves.

MLB Odds

Philadelphia Phillies -1½ -125

Cole Hamels –L -210

Atlanta Braves +1½ +105

Jo-Jo Reyes –L +175

Over 9 -110

Under 9 -110

Analysis: While Atlanta’s Mike Hampton has made an impressive return form a series of career-threatening injuries to return after missing most of the last two seasons, I just don’t see the Braves winning this contest against Hamels and the red-hot Phils.

With Philadelphia mired in a ‘knock-down, drag-out’ fight with the Mets for the NL East title, I say no way does Hamels or Philadelphia falter in tonight’s contest.

I say take the Philadelphia Phillies and the Under, BetUS MLB Sportsbook bettors.

MLB Free Picks: Phillies 5 Braves 2