Two of the top teams in the National League meet in MLB gambling on Friday as the Philadelphia Phillies host the Cincinnati Reds. It is the second game of a four-game series. The Phillies will likely be small favorites in baseball gambling with Joe Blanton scheduled to get the start while the Reds counter with Johnny Cueto.
MLB gambling odds continue to undervalue the Reds this season. Cincinnati is proving that they are a threat to win the National League Central. The Reds have a winning record at home and on the road this season. Cueto has been solid all year for Cincinnati as he is 8-2 with a 3.56 ERA. He has lost only once since late April. He is 2-0 in his last three starts with a 0.45 ERA. He has not pitched well in his career against the Phillies though, going 1-2 with an 8.04 ERA.
Blanton is 3-5 on the season with a 6.27 ERA. He has pitched better of late though. In his last three starts he is 1-0 with a 4.57 ERA. He has done well in his career against the Reds going 2-0 with a 3.92 ERA.
Before yesterday’s game, the Phillies had won 12 of the last 20 against the Reds. The teams played in Cincinnati just over a week ago and the Reds took two of three and two of the games went over the total in baseball gambling. Last year when they met in Philadelphia, the Phillies took three of four.
The Reds are winning with an offense that is 5th in the league in runs scored. Joey Votto is having an All-Star season and even though he wasn’t on the All-Star team originally, he should make the squad when all is said and done.
The Phillies are just behind the Reds in terms of runs scored at 8th in the league. Philadelphia’s pitching has been a little better than Cincinnati’s though although it has not translated to any more wins. The Phillies have been solid at home but not spectacular. It is their road record that has hurt them this season as they are below .500 on the road. Normally the Phillies are a great road team but so far this season that has not been the case and it is one reason why they are not in first place.