Wednesday's best MLB bets
Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (+180, 8.5)
The Phillies are the defending World Series champions and have a six-game lead in the NL East. They also were just swept in a four-game series by the Houston Astros, which manager Charlie Manuel finds more relevant.
"I hear some of them (players) talk, some of them saying, 'We play better when we have to,' and stuff like that, like when there's more pressure," Manuel told the team's web site. "I find that hard to believe when I see us play how we played. ... That doesn't register with me.
"Last year is dead and gone, man."
The Phillies are scuffling with the bats, managing four runs or less in their last 13 games. They have some mound issues as well.
J.A. Happ missed Monday's start with a strained oblique muscle. And Cliff Lee is suddenly hittable, having allowed 12 earned runs and 19 hits - including four homers - in just eight innings over his last two starts, both losses. Lee had given up 13 earned runs in his previous 10 starts.
Pick: Washington
San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants (-170, 8)
There are two trends tracking for the Giants - one that started just over a month ago and one that has lasted all season.
For most of the year, lefthander Barry Zito has had as much trouble finding consistency as he has had locating the plate. But he has been sharp at home lately, helping keep the Giants in the NL wild card race.
The Giants have won the last four home games started by Zito, who is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in those games. He is averaging 1.8 walks per nine innings in that span, well below his season ratio of 3.67.
San Francisco also is a solid 14-7 in home series finales, including a 4-2 mark in games started by Zito. Meanwhile, San Diego has lost nine of its last 10 games at Pac Bell Park.
Pick: San Francisco
Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (+180, 8.5)
The Phillies are the defending World Series champions and have a six-game lead in the NL East. They also were just swept in a four-game series by the Houston Astros, which manager Charlie Manuel finds more relevant.
"I hear some of them (players) talk, some of them saying, 'We play better when we have to,' and stuff like that, like when there's more pressure," Manuel told the team's web site. "I find that hard to believe when I see us play how we played. ... That doesn't register with me.
"Last year is dead and gone, man."
The Phillies are scuffling with the bats, managing four runs or less in their last 13 games. They have some mound issues as well.
J.A. Happ missed Monday's start with a strained oblique muscle. And Cliff Lee is suddenly hittable, having allowed 12 earned runs and 19 hits - including four homers - in just eight innings over his last two starts, both losses. Lee had given up 13 earned runs in his previous 10 starts.
Pick: Washington
San Diego Padres at San Francisco Giants (-170, 8)
There are two trends tracking for the Giants - one that started just over a month ago and one that has lasted all season.
For most of the year, lefthander Barry Zito has had as much trouble finding consistency as he has had locating the plate. But he has been sharp at home lately, helping keep the Giants in the NL wild card race.
The Giants have won the last four home games started by Zito, who is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in those games. He is averaging 1.8 walks per nine innings in that span, well below his season ratio of 3.67.
San Francisco also is a solid 14-7 in home series finales, including a 4-2 mark in games started by Zito. Meanwhile, San Diego has lost nine of its last 10 games at Pac Bell Park.
Pick: San Francisco
