The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves are featured in baseball betting on ESPN on Tuesday.These two teams normally play close games in MLB betting and that could be the case again if the expected pitching matchup occurs with Cole Hamels facing Tim Hudson. Baseball betting odds favored the Phillies in four of their six meetings against the Braves this season. The Phillies have won four of the six games between the two teams this season. They took two of three in Atlanta back in April while they took two of three in Philadelphia last month. Five of those six games went under the total. The Phillies have been a good road team the past few seasons and they have actually split the last twelve games in Atlanta.
Philadelphia hit a slump last week when they couldn’t hit the ball but their lineup is too good to struggle for long vs. the baseball betting odds. They have All-Stars all over the field. Current voting for this year’s All-Star game has second baseman Chase Utley, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Placido Polanco leading their positions. Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino are also looking good to start as they are second and third in NL outfielders voting behind Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun. Ryan Howard is also likely to go to the game as he is second behind St. Louis’ Albert Pujols at first base. Catcher Carlos Ruiz is also in the mix as he is second behind St. Louis’s Yadier Molina. If Utley makes the game as expected, he would become the first player in team history to start five consecutive All-Star Games. Rollins was leading Florida’s Hanley Ramirez in shortstop voting even though he hasn’t played much.
With their slump last week vs. the MLB betting odds, the Phillies let every other team in the National League East back into the race. Philadelphia is still a very good team though in baseball betting, as they rank in the Top 10 in runs per game and in ERA.
The Braves have been far better at home this season than on the road in baseball betting. Atlanta has recovered from a very slow start this season and now they are very much a part of the playoff race in the National League.