MLB Baseball
2011-08-01 - Philadelphia Phillie at Colorado Rockies
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: MLB Baseball
Monday 1 August 2011 - First Pitch 8:40pm ET
1:40am (British Standard Time)
Preview
This is the beginning of a 3 game series between two teams that clearly have different aims for the rest of the season. The Philadelphia Phillies (68-39) made a couple of big moves before the trade deadline with eyes on the World Series, while the Colorado Rockies (51-57) gave up a big piece of their starting rotation for future success.
Philadelphia already have a healthy lead in the National League East, but traded for Hunter Pence to make their offense that much more potent. Pence already showed what he can do in the Phillies 6-5 win over the Pirates yesterday.
On the other hand, the Rockies traded away Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland for 4 pieces that could prove to be very successful in the future. However, it does mean the pitching starting rotation has to fill in for their former ace and help Colorado improve.
They will start by sending Jhoulys Chacin to the mound and hope he can improve his 8-8 record. Chacin has a season 3.50 ERA but he has struggled to a 0-4 record in his last 6 starts with a 5.82 ERA.
The pitcher was much better in his latest outing against the LA Dodgers and has already got a win under his belt against the Phillies this season.
Philadelphia will counter with Cole Hamels who is 12-6 with a 2.61 ERA this season, and he has allowed 2 runs or less in 11 of his last 12 starts.
Hamels recorded a win over the Rockies in his only start against them this season, a 2-1 win for the Phillies, but he was hit for 7 runs in just under 4 innings pitched in his only start at Coors Field last year.
Head to Head
The season series is split 1-1 after the Rockies won the last game to stop a run of 6 consecutive defeats to the Phillies.
Philadelphia are 19-7 in the last 26 games played between them.
Colorado are 20-16 in Game 1's this season, and they are 13-10 when they come in off a loss.
Philadelphia are 23-12 in Game 1's, but they are only 9-10 when they win their last game.
Prediction
The Philadelphia Phillies should be able to open this series with a win as they do have an advantage on the mound tonight. Cole Hamels has been pitching well and has not given up too many runs when he has started, although he must erase memories of his only performance at Coors Field.
Colorado have all but admitted they are looking beyond this season when they traded away their ace pitcher, and they will only have a chance in this game if Jhoulys Chacin can return to pre-June 21 form.
It might not be a high scoring game, but I expect the Philadelphia offense to score enough runs for Cole Hamels to defend and pick up another win on their march to the postseason.
The Pick :
Colorado Rockies 2-4 Philadelphia Phillies
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Philadelphia Phillies @ 1.75 (Various)
