Phillies vs Red Sox | Preview, Odds, Free Pick

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Boston Red Sox
4:10 PM Saturday June 12, FOX
Pitching Probables: Joe Blanton vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka
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Let me be the thousandth person to write – what has happened to the Phillies offense? This is supposed to be one of the best offensive clubs in the game and they have hit a three week dry spell since they last faced the Red Sox. Their pitching is better than average but if you don’t score you can’t win so it is getting tougher to back the Phillies these days. Blanton’s pitching hasn’t been helping matters much as he has been getting spanked this year. He just can’t keep the ball in the ballpark which is not a good sign against the resurgent Sox who are second in the majors in homers. The Phils did not get off to a good start to the series on Friday and it looks like Saturday’s feature game might be more of a mismatch than anticipated.

While Blanton has been very hittable Matsuzaka has been very sharp of late, including 8 innings of 4 hit shutout ball against the Indians in his last outing. He still walks more than you would like but with the way the Phillies are scuffling along they may bail him out a bit. The Red Sox have been one of the hottest teams of late until a couple of losses to the Indians. They have put themselves back in the race and appear to be catching Philadelphia at just the right time. The blowout in game 1 of the series sets them up nicely for the final two games of this weekend set.

The odds makers have the Red Sox as –1-½ – favorites with a run total of 10.

Prediction: I keep waiting for Ryan Howard and the Phillies to show us the team we all know and love and I keep getting disappointed. Whether they can do it in Boston with Blanton on the mound is anybody’s guess but it doesn’t seem likely. I think you have to go with the BoSox here but depending on the payout it might be a pass.

Score Prediction:
Boston – 6
Philadelphia – 4

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Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends:

• Philadelphia is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 10 games on the road
• Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
• Philadelphia is 4-15 SU in its last 19 games when playing Boston

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends:

• Boston is 16-7 SU in its last 23 games
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games at home
• Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
• Boston is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games when playing Philadelphia