MLB Baseball
2012-04-19 - Philadelphia Phillie at San Diego Padres
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Thursday 19 April 2012 - First Pitch 10:10pm ET
3:10am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The San Diego Padres (3-10) were expected to have a tough season and they have regularly struggled against the Philadelphia Phillies (5-7). Philadelphia themselves had not had a good start to the season themselves as they struggle at the plate in the absence of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
It is unlikely that Philadelphia will improve their batting statistics at Petco Park, a ballpark which is regularly a pitchers paradise. The Phillies have scored 3 or fewer runs in 5 of their last 7 games, but the pitching staff have kept them in games by allowing just 2 runs or fewer in 3 of their last 4.
They will give the ball to Vance Worley for his first career appearance against the Padres. Worley is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA so far this season and he is coming off a game where he allowed 4 runs from 8 hits and also walking 4 in just 6 innings pitched.
San Diego are 1-6 in their last 7 games and they have scored just 4 runs or fewer in 7 of their last 9 games. They scored just 5 runs in their last home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks while losing 2 of 3 and they may need to put some scores on the board if they are to avoid another loss in this one.
Joe Wieland is making his second career start after allowing 6 runs from 6 innings in a loss to the LA Angels. He allowed 3 Home Runs in that game and also walked 3 batters with all the damage being done in the first 2 innings.
Head to Head
Philadelphia are 24-4 in the last 28 games played at Petco Park and they have won 11 in a row at this ballpark.
Prediction
The Philadelphia Phillies have not played that well this season as they struggle to find consistencies at the plate, but their pitching staff continues to produce and it is that facet of the game that should provide them with the edge in this one.
San Diego are expected to have a tough time all season, and they too will have it tough in this ballpark which has aided pitchers.
With the Phillies record here in Southern California, I am going to take them to win the game, and I will take them on the run line in what figures to be a low-scoring game. 9 of their last 10 wins here have come by at least two runs so the price looks acceptable.
The Pick :
San Diego Padres 1-3 Philadelphia Phillies
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the Philadelphia Phillies -1.5 Runs @ 2.40
