MLB Betting – Phillies Surging As Saunders Makes D-Backs Debut

The Phillies are eyeing a sweep against Arizona, as well as their eighth straight win. The Diamondbacks will try and prevent that (and halt a six-game losing streak) by showing off their newest acquisition.

Location: Citizens Bank Ballpark – Philadelphia, PA
Game Time: Thursday, July 28th, 2010 – 7:05 PM EST
TV: CSN, FSAZ

MLB Betting Odds:

Arizona Diamondbacks +140
Joe Saunders – (L)

Philadelphia Phillies -160
Kyle Kendrick – (R)

Run Line:
Diamondbacks +1.5 -140
Phillies -1.5 +120

Total:
9 O -115
9 U -105

The Week That Was: Diamondbacks

The San Francisco Giants needed a strong weekend to keep pace in the NL-West, and the Arizona Diamondbacks did everything they could to help them in their quest. The D-Backs were swept last weekend against their divisional-rivals, barely putting up a fight during the four-game set. They were shutout 3-0 in the opener. They lost 7-4 in the second game, despite Kelly Johnson hitting for the cycle (the D-Backs were done in by three errors). The game wasn’t even close on Saturday, as San Francisco hammered Arizona 10-4. The finale was the only game the D-Backs put up a fight, taking the Giants to 10-innings but eventually falling 3-2.

It didn’t get any easier for Arizona, travelling to Philadelphia for a three-game set. The first game went as many expected, an easy 9-5 win for the Phillies. Arizona had to face Roy Halladay in game two, and that as well went as expected, as Philadelphia won 7-1.

The Week That Was: Phillies

The only thing the Phillies haven’t done in the past seven days is lose; they’re on a seven game winning streak that began last Thursday with a 2-0 win over St. Louis (a win that ended a four-game losing streak).

Next came a four-game set at home against the Rockies, a series that Philadelphia promptly swept. Roy Halladay pitched eight scoreless innings in the opener as the Phillies won 6-0. The bats came alive in the second game, as Philly won 10-2. That feat is even more impressive considering they were facing superstar Ubaldo Jimenez. The Phillies had to work a little harder in game three, but completed the comeback in a 4-3 win. Jimmy Rollins had the game-tying RBI and tie-breaking run in the seventh. The sweep was complete with a 5-4 win in the finale.

Game one in the Arizona series went in the favor of Philly, as the NL Champs won 9-5. Game two saw vintage Roy Halladay; Doc pitched a complete game and allowed just six hits in a 7-1 win.

MLB Betting Matchup

Joe Saunders will be making his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks, having come over earlier in the week in the Dan Haren deal. Saunders is a serviceable starter but had some struggles this year with the Angels; his 6-10 record and 4.62 ERA will attest to that. Still, he’s shown flashes of brilliance this season, including his final start as an Angel when he threw seven innings of one-run ball while striking out six. On the flip side, the last time Saunders played in a National League ballpark he was embarrassed; versus the Cubs in Wrigley, he lasted only 2 2/3 innings, giving up eight runs in the process.