Phillies Look To Beat Feisty Nationals, Move Closer To NL East Lead

The Philadelphia Phillies (75-63, 62-76 RL, 61-72-5 O/U) got a masterful performance from staff ace Cole Hamels on Tuesday night to beat the Washington Nationals (53-85, 74-64 RL, 64-69-5 O/U),4-0 and snap their seven-game losing streak.

Tonight, the Phillies, currently two games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets, could use another strong outing from veteran right-hander Joe Blanton (6-12, 4.69 ERA) who has posted a stellar 2.31 ERA over is last two starts but has failed to pick up a victory.

The right-hander has not received a decision over his last two starts despite posting a 2.31 ERA because of a serious lack of run support from one of the best hitting team in the majors.

Blanton limited the Chicago Cubs to just two runs on a scant two hits, though he walked a whopping five batters in 5.2 innings in Philadelphia’s 3-2 loss on Friday night.

The Nationals will counter with veteran southpaw Odalis Perez (6-10, 4.14) who has picked his game up recently, along with his teammates, going 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA over his last six starts.

Perez limited the Atlanta Braves to three runs, (two earned), on seven hits in 6.1 innings in Friday night’s 7-3 win. Perez is also 6-3 with a 2.70 ERA in nine starts and five relief appearances against the Phillies.

Nationals’ shortstop Cristian Guzman will be back in the lineup tonight after having a day off on Tuesday. Guzman was named co-NL Player of the Week on Tuesday after batting a blistering .552 and hitting for the cycle on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Here is a look at tonight’s key online sports wagering trends followed by my analysis and MLB online betting Free Picks:

The Under is 4-1-1 in Blanton’s last six starts overall.

The Under is 4-1-1 in Blanton’s last six starts on grass.

The Nationals are 2-6 in Perez’s last eight starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.

The Nationals are 1-5 in Perez’s last six starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Under is 5-0 in Perez’s last five home starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Phillies are 5-1 in the last six meetings in Washington.

The Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings in Washington.

MLB Odds

Philadelphia Phillies -1½ -105

Joe Blanton –R -160

Washington Nationals +1½ -115

Odalis Perez –L +140

Over 9 -105

Under 9 -115

Analysis: I know the Nationals are playing excellent baseball at the moment and that Phillies starter Joe Blanton is prone to giving up four or five runs without a moment’s notice, but Blanton is on top of his game right now and the Phillies know they need every win they can muster up from this point until the end pf the regular season. Take the Phillies to win this matchup and continue their march toward what they hope will be their second straight division title.

MLB Free Picks: Phillies 6 Nationals 4