MLB Playoffs Betting - Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Three NLCS games and three dead-on predictions should have my beloved BetUS MLB Locker Room readers primed to drop some major dough on tonight’s Game 4 matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies, (97-72 SU, 75-88-6 O/U, 79-90 RL) and Los Angeles Dodgers, (88-80 SU, 77-85-6 O/U, 85-83 RL) in the BetUS Sportsbook!

The best part for BetUS MLB wagering enthusiasts is that tonight’s Game 4 matchup is just as easy to predict as the three previous matchups, but I’ll get to that in just a bit.

The Dodgers got their first win of the series with Sunday’s emphatic 7-2 spanking of the Phillies and will turn to veteran right-hander Derek Lowe, (15-12, 3.24 ERA), tonight as he looks to tie the series at two games apiece and bounce back from an unimpressive start in Game 1 after giving up three runs, (two earned), on six hits – including two mammoth home runs – in just 5.1 innings on Thursday.

Lowe, (1-1, 3.18 ERA postseason) will take the mound on just three days’ rest despite his mediocre performance in Game 1 as Dodgers’ manager Joe Torre, (the best in the business), says the veteran hurler will not be affected one iota by making the start on short rest.

Torre knows from firsthand experience what Lowe can do on short rest in the postseason as he witnessed Lowe’s only other career postseason start on short rest came in Game 7 of the ALCS with Lowe pitching for the Boston Red Sox and tossing six innings of shutout ball against Torre’s former club, the New York Yankees as Boston won 10-3.

"I think he's got the mindset and the experience that makes him raise his hand any time you think about doing something like this," Torre said. "And it certainly makes my job easier as opposed to trying to talk somebody into pitching on short rest."

Lowe and the Dodgers will go up against Phillies veteran right-hander Joe Blanton, (5-0, 3.99 ERA), who tossed a gem in his last start, limiting the Milwaukee Brewers to one run on five hits while striking out seven in six innings in Philadelphia’s 6-2 NLDS Game 4 series-clinching win on last Sunday.

The Dodgers won Game 3 as rookie second baseman Blake DeWitt hit a three-run triple and shortstop Rafael Furcal hit a solo home run.

"We needed to get the momentum back," catcher Russell Martin said. "I think we did that."

The game got a bit testy as well as Dodgers’ starter Hiroki Kuroda threw a pitch near the head of Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino in retaliation for a pitch that Phillies right-hander Brett Myers threw behind Dodgers’ outfielder Manny Ramirez in Game 2, causing both teams’ benches to empty.

"It's baseball," DeWitt said. "Emotions are high. There are two competitive teams going at it. It's a series where two teams are fighting to get into a World Series.”

Blanton is 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Dodgers, but the red-hot Ramirez has pounded Blanton senseless in his career, going a surreal, 14-for-25 (.560) in his career off the veteran, including 6-for-13 with a home run and six RBIs this season.