Florida Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview: August 7th 2009

Florida Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies 7:35 ET
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The landscape in the National League East can change this weekend in the City of Brotherly Love, and BetUS.com customers will have their chance to boost their bankrolls with all of the sports betting action! In the first game of a three-game set, the Florida Marlins (55-53, +$228) will square off with the Philadelphia Phillies (61-45, +$764). The defending champs have owned Florida in their season series this year winning seven of the nine overall meetings. BetUS oddsmakers have lined the champs as -150 favorites, while the sports betting ‘total’ chimes in at 9 over -110.

In order to buck that trend, the Marlins will send RHP Ricky Nolasco to the hill. The right-hander has been scorching hot for Florida’s baseball bettors of late. Since the middle of June, Nolasco has the led Fish to eight wins against just two losses, and save for allowing seven runs to Arizona on July 10th, he has pitched fantastically. In his L/3 starts, all Marlin victories, Nolasco has a svelte 1.33 ERA and an even more impressive 0.89 WHIP. He may only be 7-7 with a 5.00 ERA on the season, but considering the fact that he was 2-5 with a 9.07 ERA back on May 22nd, those numbers aren’t so bad. Nolasco has faced the Phillies ten times in his career, starting seven times. He has a 4.47 ERA against them, but his WHIP (1.24) and opposing batting average (.231) are both very good numbers.

The Phillies will counter with RHP Joe Blanton. Blanton has been on absolute fire for manager Charlie Manuel lately. He hasn’t allowed more than four runs in a game since May 21st, and has only allowed four runs once in that stretch. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that he hasn’t allowed more than two runs in a game since June 30th. It was a very impressive 4-0 month of July for Phillies bettors with Blanton on the bump where Blanton went 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA. The right-hander has had a nice little career against the Marlins, going a perfect 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts. Florida’s hitters are batting just .222 against him in his career.

Both pitchers have been hot, so there’s no reason not to continue riding them. Five of the L/6 match-ups between these two NL East rivals have failed to reach the ‘total’. The home teams have been particularly bad offensively, as they haven’t scored more than five runs in a game this season. The last three Marlins games with Nolasco on the mound have all stayed ‘under’ the ‘total’, as have seven of his L/9. ‘Under’ bettors have rejoiced all year with Blanton on the mound, going 11-6-3 in his 20 outings; seven of Philly’s L/10 have stayed ‘under’ as well. Bank on another low scoring baseball wagering affair tonight.

Rose’s Recommendation: 4* FLA/PHI Under 9 -110 (Nolasco/Blanton)
(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)