Phillies-Braves Lines Preview

If familiarity breeds contempt, there should be animosity aplenty on Saturday when the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves meet at Turner Field.

Ace Cole Hamels will be the starting pitcher for the Phillies on this day. Lefthander Hamels is 7-7 this season with a 4.77 ERA.

It’ll be Kenshin Kawakami toeing the rubber for the Braves in this contest. Righthander Kawakami is 5-9 with a 4.12 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Phillies listed as 123-moneyline favorites versus the Braves, while the game’s total has not yet been posted.

Ryan Howard belted a solo home run in the ninth inning to lift the Phillies past the Braves 3-2 in the series-opener on Friday, as +120 underdogs. The team’s played UNDER the posted over/under (8.5).

Chase Utley launched a two-run homer for the other Phillies runs. Ryan Madson earned the win in relief, and Brad Lidge closed out the ninth for his 22^nd save.

Chipper Jones went 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Braves, who were -140 favorites. Rafael Soriano gave up the winning run and suffered the loss.

Current streak:
Philadelphia has won 4 straight games.

Team records:
Philadelphia: 65-48 SU
Atlanta: 60-55 SU

Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing Atlanta are 4-6
After a win are 7-3

Atlanta most recently:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Philadelphia are 9-1
After playing Philadelphia are 8-2
After a loss are 8-2

A few trends to consider:
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Philadelphia is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Atlanta
Philadelphia is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Atlanta
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Philadelphia
Atlanta is 13-5 SU in its last 18 games at home
Atlanta is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Next up:
Atlanta home to Philadelphia, Sunday, August 16