Dodgers to Complete Sweep of Phillies

Zack Wheeler is on the mound for Philly while future Hall of Fame southpaw Clayton Kershaw gets the start for the Dodgers. The MLB betting odds for this matchup of NL World Series contenders are live in the BetUS online sportsbook right now.

Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers

When: Wednesday, 10:10 p.m. ET

Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

TV: NBCSP, SportsNet LA, MLBN, SNLA Deportes

Starting Pitchers

Philadelphia – Zack Wheeler – RHP – (4-3, 2.29 ERA, 112 SO)

LA Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw – LHP – (8-5, 3.39 ERA, 95 SO)

MLB Odds

Philadelphia +127

LA Dodgers -142

Run Line

Philadelphia +1½ (-170)

LA Dodgers -1½ (+150)

Total: 7

Phillies Hope to See ‘Mediocre’ Kershaw

The Phillies are hoping they’ll get the mediocre version of Kershaw that we’ve seen a few times this season. Philadelphia has been held to a grand total of four runs over the first two games of the series, including the 5-3 loss on Tuesday night.

Third baseman Alec Bohm drove in two runs and Andrew McCutchen added a solo homer, but Bryce Harper left the game with lower-back stiffness after he took an awkward swing in the fourth. The Phillies left nine on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

“Hitting it with runners in scoring position usually is the difference in the games,” Philadelphia manager Joe Girardi said.

For their series finale, Philadelphia hands the ball to Wheeler. The right-hander has been rock-solid in limiting the opposition to two earned runs or less in seven of his last eight starts. Wheeler was phenomenal the last time out, tossing eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts in a narrow 4-3 home win over Atlanta on Thursday.

Kershaw Seeking Consistency

The Dodgers have scratched out a pair of hard-fought wins over Philly. Superstar center fielder Mookie Betts, a former American League MVP winner, had three hits, including the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning.

LA’s sold-out crowd of 52,078 was the largest for a professional sports league game in the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic – and Betts delivered.

“It was a great feeling knowing that they’re finally cheering on my behalf,” Betts said. “I definitely, definitely soaked it all in while I could.”

After a slow start, Betts is hitting .296  in his last 14 games with three homers in his last six games,

“I’m trying to take it one day at a time,” Betts said. “All it takes is a pitch or one swing, but I’ve been so in and out that it’s been kind of tough (to find a rhythm).”

For Game 3 on Wednesday night, the Dodgers will hand the ball to Kershaw. The southpaw tossed six shutout innings against Texas in his last start on Friday, allowing just three hits and striking out nine. Prior to that, however, Kershaw was rocked for an identical five earned runs in consecutive starts against the Atlanta Braves and Giants. Kershaw is just 4-5 with a 2.75 ERA and 104 strikeouts in his career against the Phillies.

Kershaw Shows Up, Betts Strikes Again

The Phillies are 3-8 in their last 11 against a team with a winning record, 2-8 in their last 10 games against teams from the NL West and  1-5 in their last six games against a left-handed starter.

Los Angeles has won seven of the last nine meetings against Philadelphia while going a commanding 20-8 in the last 20 meetings in LA. Kershaw needs a good outing to boost his confidence and I expect him to do just that. I’m going to back Los Angeles as a manageable straight-up pick to get it done in a relatively low-scoring affair for the third straight game against Philly.

Pick: LA Dodgers -142