MLB: Braves Deserved Road Underdogs

After a difficult start to their seven-game road trip thru Pennsylvania


2008-05-15

After a difficult start to their seven-game road trip thru Pennsylvania, the Atlanta Braves look to finish up the stretch on high note as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday. The league’s worst road team is only supported by 24% of early bettors at Sportsbook.com.

Atlanta (20-19, -2.9 units) has the worst road record in the majors at 6-15 (-11 units), all but negating its 14-4 home mark. The Braves dropped the first three games of this trip to extend their road losing streak to seven, but have won two of their last three contests, including an 8-6 victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Now the Braves will be trying to win just their second road series of the season and first since taking two of three against Washington from April 11-13. Atlanta has won consecutive road games just twice this season and is 5-17 (-14.3 Units) against the money line off an upset win over a division rival as an underdog over the last three seasons.

On Wednesday, Chipper Jones, Yunel Escobar and Kelly Johnson hit solo home runs and Brian McCann had three RBIs to support starter Tom Glavine, who pitched 5 2/3 innings for his first victory with the Braves since 2002.

McCann is batting .309 on the season and .395 with two homers and six doubles in 10 games this month. He’s driven in seven runs in the last four games. “Baseball is so streaky,” McCann told the Braves’ official Web site. “When I was struggling for a while at the plate, I think I had a lot of chances to drive in runs. Now I’m feeling better and I hope that I get more chances to drive in runs.”

Wednesday’s loss was the Phillies third in four games, and came despite several strong offensive performances. Chris Coste was 4-for-4 and Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley each drove in two runs. Utley hit his major league-leading 14th homer of the season and first in 10 games, while Ryan Howard also homered. Philadelphia (22-19, +0.1 units) was supposed to be a strong NL East contender, but has been mediocre in the first quarter of the season and is 4-7 against fellow division opponents this season.

Chuck James (2-2, 7.58 ERA) will make the start for Atlanta on Thursday. He allowed five runs, five hits and walked four against the Pirates on Saturday, striking out seven in a 5-2 loss. The left-hander, who had been recalled from Triple-A Richmond to make his fourth start of the season, had won his previous two starts. He’s taken over the injured Mike Hampton’s spot in the rotation. “To be successful here, I have to hit my spots and put the ball on the corners,” said James, 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA in six starts against the Phillies. Dating back to last year, Atlanta is 5-1 when James pitches as underdog.

Philadelphia will counter with Cole Hamels (4-3, 3.36), who’s won his last two decisions. He allowed four runs and struck out seven in seven innings Friday against San Francisco in a 7-4 victory. Hamels was 2-1 with a 0.82 ERA in his first three starts, but is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA in his last five. With the Braves 24th in stolen bases, Hamels is 17-3 vs. poor base-running teams, averaging a stolen base or less every other game over the last two seasons. (Phillies Record)

The left-hander has won his last three starts versus the Braves, giving him a 3-2 record and 4.42 ERA in six career starts against them. Sportsbook.com has Hamels and the Phils a -168 money line favorite with Total Un9. Philadelphia is 11-3 with Hamels on the hill when a home favorite and 12-1 when in -151 to -200 price range. Atlanta comes into series finale having not won in seven tries on the road, having won two of last three contests.

The Braves are 5-15-1 UNDER playing on the road in 2008 and the Phillies are 14-4 UNDER in home games after allowing eight runs or more over the last two seasons.

The umpire will call out “Play Ball” right about 7:05 Eastern, in a game that can been in both local markets, along with on MLB.TV. Take note, Hamels and his free swinging teammates are 7-0 in Game Three’s.

StatFox Power Line – Phillies -120

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