The chances of the Philadelphia Phillies winning vs. the sports betting odds increased on Thursday as the team traded for Houston’s Roy Oswalt. The Phillies are putting the pressure on the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and Oswalt could be the player that pushes them past the Braves vs. the Internet sports betting odds. Oswalt gives the Phillies a potent one-two pitching combination along with Roy Halladay.
Sports betting odds will favor Oswalt in most of his starts for Philadelphia. He is considered one of the best pitchers in the league even though he is just 6-12 this season. The Astros received left-handed starting pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects in the deal.
The Phillies could have the best starting trio in the league vs. sports betting odds with Halladay, Oswalt and Cole Hamels. The Braves have a good top of the line starter in Tim Hudson but they don’t have the trio that the Phillies have. Oswalt has 143 victories in his career which is more than any other pitcher in the National League. He has 1,593 strikeouts and that is the most of any pitcher since 2001 who has at least 100 starts. As part of the deal the Astros will pay $11 million of the money that Oswalt is owed through 2011. The Phillies did not include the 2012 option year for Oswalt but it could be added at a later time.
The addition of Oswalt could make the Phillies the team to beat in sports betting in the National League. The Phillies have been red-hot of late as their offensive numbers have improved to 8th best in the league. The team will also be getting second baseman Chase Utley back from injury in the next month. The Phillies were 11th in the league in ERA but now that they have Oswalt, they should be better. The team was just 14th in quality starts and with Oswalt in the rotation that number should improve.
The Phillies are the defending National League champs and even though they currently trail the Atlanta Braves, many sports betting experts believe the addition of Oswalt puts them over the top. The Phillies are currently 15-1 to win the World Series and those Internet sports betting odds could drop now that the team has added Oswalt.