Bryce Harper reportedly wanted to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was a free agent this past winter. Alas, the Dodgers never made him a big offer so he signed with the Phillies. The Dodgers are in Philly on Tuesday night with L.A. favored on the MLB Lines.
How to Bet Dodgers vs Phillies MLB Betting Lines & Game Info
- When: Tuesday, 7:05 PM ET
- Where: Citizens Bank Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Walker Buehler/Vince Velasquez
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 94 WIP
- MLB Betting Lines: Los Angeles Dodgers -180 (Total 9.5)
Reds vs Cubs MLB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
The Dodgers got good news on utilityman Chris Taylor as X-rays came back negative on Taylor’s left wrist. Taylor got hit by a pitch in the 11th inning of Sunday night’s marathon victory over the Red Sox. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the versatile 28-year-old was “still in a lot of pain” after the game so he may miss a few games. Since June 18, Taylor’s eight doubles are tied for fourth in the big leagues and his .391 average is tied for fifth in the MLB.
A.J. Pollock homered and drove in four runs on Sunday night, leading the Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over the Red Sox in 12 innings. Pollock opened the scoring in the contest, crushing a three-run homer off of David Price in the opening inning after an error by Red Sox’ shortstop Xander Bogaerts had extended the inning. He victimized Price again in the fifth inning with a run-scoring single to cash in David Freese from third base. Pollock finished the day 3-for-6 with a pair of runs scored, raising his season slash to .248/.308/.393 to go along with four homers and 20 RBIs. Pollock didn’t start Monday in favor of Alex Verdugo but should be back in center field on Tuesday.
L.A.’s Walker Buehler (8-1) took a no-decision last time out vs. the Diamondbacks, recording nine strikeouts while surrendering three runs on nine hits over seven innings. Buehler’s major damage came in the form of a two-run home run to Christian Walker in the fourth and an RBI double he allowed to Ketel Marte in the seventh that knotted the score at 3-3. The Dodgers ended up winning, but not until a walk-off homer from Cody Bellinger in the 10th.
It was the third time in Buehler’s career that he recorded at least nine strikeouts while not issuing any walks. The 24-year-old southpaw now owns a 3.46 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 113:14 K:BB. He’s 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. Since April 25, Dodger starters are 30-11 with a 2.77 ERA. The starters have posted a .227 batting average against while allowing a .635 OPS during that span.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.36
- Hits: 9.03
- Walks: 3.80
- Strike Outs: 8.04
- Runs: 3.82
- Hits: 7.50
- Walks: 2.21
- Strike Outs: 9.02
Why Bet on Philadelphia?
Phils first baseman Rhys Hoskins has a 17.6% walk rate this year. Just 26 years of age, Hoskins’ 17.6 % BB rate would be the highest ever by a Phillies player, 26 or younger. In fact, over the last 20 seasons, only four other major-league players, 26 or younger, have completed a season with a walk rate as high as Hoskins. He leads MLB in total pitches seen at 1,858 and pitches per plate appearance at 4.60 (next: STL’s Matt Carpenter, 4.46).
The Phillies are looking for bullpen help and reportedly are looking Orioles closer, Mychal Givens. Givens owns an underwhelming 4.50 ERA on the season and was demoted from the ninth-inning role in Baltimore at one point, but he’s been better lately and holds an encouraging 51/16 K/BB ratio in 36 total frames. The 29-year-old right-hander reached salary arbitration for the first time this winter and is under control through 2021.
The Phils have four bullpen guys on the injured list after placing Tommy Hunter there over the weekend. Hunter missed the first three months of the 2019 season with a similar issue, but he had delivered 5 1/3 scoreless innings of relief since returning in late June. Yet another blow to that group.
Philly’s Vince Velasquez (2-5) lost his spot in the rotation earlier this season, but is back and probably staying, unless the front office makes a couple of moves. He is 0-2 with a 5.94 ERA in his last four starts. He has pitched just 16 2/3 innings in that span.
In his last start vs. the Mets, Velasquez didn’t factor into the decision, allowing two runs on six hits over five innings while striking out three. The right-hander threw 56 of 79 pitches for strikes in a solid outing but hit the showers on the hook for his sixth loss of the season, before the Phillies once again rallied against Edwin Diaz and the Mets bullpen. Velasquez now sports a 4.63 ERA and 63:23 K:BB through 56.1 innings. He is 1-3 with a 7.91 ERA career against the Dodgers.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.80
- Hits: 8.30
- Walks: 3.65
- Strike Outs: 8.65
- Runs: 4.97
- Hits: 9.18
- Walks: 3.35
- Strike Outs: 8.37
Dodgers vs Phillies MLB Betting Trends
- Dodgers are 5-1 in Buehler’s last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance
- Phillies are 1-4 in Velasquez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record
- Dodgers are 13-7 SU in their last 20 games against an opponent in the National League
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers’ last 5 games on the road
- Phillies are 3-6 SU in their last 9 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Dodgers vs Phillies
Los Angeles Dodgers 6 – Philadelphia Phillies 3
