Weren’t the critics just crowing about the demise of the Philadelphia Phillies and their slow and painful death in the offshore wagering odds?
Well, the Phillies (56-46) are back from the grave and get stronger by the minute. A team that looked like it was destined for ruin and multiple off season surgeries as the team has been plagued by numerous injuries and couldn’t hit its way out of a paper sack, it’s all of sudden, the hottest team in the NL and just 2.5 games out of first in the NL East division race.
The team scares the bejeezus out of the first place Atlanta Braves (58-43) as well it should.
As the baseball season wears on the Phillies are getting healthier by the day with All Star slugger Chase Utley looking to be back in the lineup within 3-4 weeks, among others. But even without Utley and fellow All Star Shane Victorino and grey beard starter Jamie Moyer, this team is on a roll.
It’s won eight straight games (the longest in MLB offshore wagering competition) and online
Wagering companies are changing their odds of winning the NL East from ‘long shot’ to ‘probable’.
This roster was good enough to win the NL East without any additions but this team is obviously looking for something more than simply winning the division and proved it by trading for former NLCS MVP and All Star Roy Oswalt from the Houston Rockets.
Oswalt (6-12, 3.42 ERA) is throwing the ball as well as he has in years. Despite his lackluster W-L record, which seems to be the product of playing for a loser, he’s throwing strikes and (120 Ks in 129 innings) and has only allowed more than 2 runs in 6 of his past 10 starts.
Together with the deadly Roy Halladay (12-8, 2.21 ERA) and Cole Hamels (7-7, 3.48 ERA) this trio forms the most dangerous top three pitchers in a rotation in the NL.
The Phillies are also starting to put the bat on the ball as they get healthier and it’s just a matter of time before this team overtakes the Braves for the division lead and put’s itself at the top of online wagering companies’ betting lines as a NLCS contender.