Atlanta Braves (82-59) @ Philadelphia Phillies (90-48)
The Philadelphia Phillies look to put the broom to the Atlanta Braves tonight at Citizen’s Bank Park and take one step closer to the inevitable National League East divisional crown. The Phillies hold the best record in baseball by a mile, and have a 9.5 game lead over the Braves heading into tonight’s 7pm ET game. Philadelphia’s number to clinch a playoff berth is six, and 14 for the NL East crown.
Overall the consensus pick so far seems to be leading the Phillies way, with the line sitting at -134 for the Philadelphia, and the Total at 8, where the Braves have seen themselves being outscored 15-3. The Braves will turn to Brandon Beachy (7-2, 3.37 ERA) in an attempt to hang on to their seven game lead atop the Wild Card standings, but he’s lost all three decision to the Phillies in his career. Roy Oswalt (7-8, 3.80) will take to the mound for the Philies, as he looks to keep his game on a roll by winning his fourth game in the past five outings.
Boston Red Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays
45-year old knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, looks for career win number 200, as the Boston Red Sox finish their series in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Wakefield (6-6, 4.95 ERA) has been at 199 for over a month now. The Blue Jays will send Brandon Morrow (9-10, 4.78) to the mound, hoping to get a better outcome than last night in a big 14-0 blowout loss to the BoSox.
The pick on this games seems to be on the Blue Jays, as Wakefield has gone seven starts without picking up a win, but he always seems to play well at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, as witnessed by a strong outing in a 6-4 win over the Jays back on July 6th. Toronto has lost four of five. Oddsmakers have Boston at -115 and the Total at 9.5.
