It's been almost exactly a month since Arizona won a road game, and the D-Backs are big baseball betting underdogs to stop the string Thursday at the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Philadelphia Phillies stayed hot in Wednesday’s 7-1 crushing of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Philadelphia got the money as a 265 home favorite for its seventh straight win, while Arizona logged its sixth straight loss.
Thursday evening’s rematch is the final battle of a three-game set between the foes, with the ‘over’ 2-0 in its first two duels. The series-finale has Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick (6-4, 4.60 ERA) starting on the mound against Arizona’s Joe Saunders (6-10, 4.62 ERA), who makes his Diamondbacks debut after being traded from the Los Angeles Angels this week.
Sports books opened Kendrick as a 175 baseball betting favorite, with early wagering on Saunders driving down Kendrick’s premium as low as minus 160. Betting shops first set the ‘total’ at a flat 9 ½, with some leaning to the ‘over’ at minus 115.
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Kendrick last started in Saturday’s 10-2 win for Philadelphia as a 135 home dog against the Colorado Rockies. The righty went seven innings, allowing one run on six hits.
The Phillies had opened up to an early lead with a seven-run third inning, finishing with 11 hits. Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, who leads the National League with 81 RBIs, poked a three-run triple in a 1-for-4 night.
Philadelphia is 7-2 in Kendrick’s nine home appearances, with the ‘over’ 5-4. Run support has been apparent with the Phillies notching 6.9 RPG in that span, while allowing 4.7 RPG.
Howard and Co. are riding a 10-0 streak in their last 10 home dates, with the ‘total’ a split 5-5. The Phillies are 6-0 against Arizona in the last six meetings against them at Citizens Bank Park, dating back to 2008.
Saunders has been off since Friday’s 1-0 defeat with the Angels, who were 182 road dogs against the Texas Rangers. The lefty allowed seven hits, including a first-inning home run from Texas’ Michael Young that was enough for the loss.
Saunders went 4-4 in nine road starts for the Angels, including a no-decision won by Los Angeles, 4-3, as a 126 road dog at Seattle. The 2009 All-Star’s only road start against a National League club in that span resulted in a 12-1 loss for the Angels as 132 road dogs against the Chicago Cubs, with Saunders lit up for five earned runs on nine hits in a brief 2 2/3-inning day.
Arizona has not won a road game since June 30, one day before interim manager Kirk Gibson was promoted to take the reins from A.J. Hinch, who was fired. The Diamondbacks, who have a road Team ERA of 5.77, are 13-35 in their 48 games away from home, with the ‘over’ 29-17-2.
Arizona’s Justin Upton (.280 BA) left Tuesday’s game with a hip injury and missed Wednesday’s matchup. The right fielder is not expected to be in Thursday’s starting lineup, according to DonBest.com.
Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins (.244 BA) has missed the series against Arizona due to a foot injury and is not expected to start in Thursday’s game.
The first pitch for Thursday’s battle is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Weather conditions in Philadelphia call for an 88-degree evening, with light winds and a 20-percent chance of thunderstorms.
Philadelphia will make the short trip to Washington for a weekend series with the Nationals, beginning Friday evening. Arizona will continue its road trip in New York, facing the Mets.