NL East rivals battle it out on ESPN in Monday MLB betting as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves. It is the first game of a six-game road trip for the Braves while the Phillies are playing the first game of a seven-game home stand. The Phillies are favored in baseball betting odds since they are at home and since it should be Roy Halladay on the mound on Monday.
MLB betting odds routinely favor the Phillies but the team has been a money burner for bettors. The Phillies are above .500 but not by much and they are laying money in almost all of their games. They will be laying money in this game as well. The Braves are expected to send Derek Lowe to the mound on Monday. He has pitched 26 1/3 innings with a 3.08 ERA in his last four starts. In the last ten years, Lowe is 7-2 against the Phillies with a 3.17 ERA.
The Phillies will likely go with Roy Halladay on Monday and he has excellent numbers on the season although his win/loss record is not overwhelming. Halladay is one of those pitchers that have a very high price tag. When he is pitching the Phillies are big favorites in baseball betting. That means they must win almost every time he is on the mound for it to be profitable to back him in baseball betting. That hasn’t happened as much recently. He was beaten last time out at Cincinnati even though he pitched a complete game.
The Braves have been leading the NL East in recent weeks. They have done almost all of their damage at home. The Braves are not nearly as good on the road. Atlanta is 18-24 on the road this season so it will not be easy to get a win in MLB betting in this Monday night matchup. The Braves are 5th in the league in ERA and 9th in hitting so they are capable of winning against anyone.
The Phillies are 20-15 vs. the MLB betting odds at home this season. They still have not hit their stride yet this season and trail the Braves in the NL East. Their stats are just average as they are 11th in the league in hitting and 14th in ERA.