Pirates-Phillies Pointers

The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies will both be trying to pick up a win on Friday when they battle at Citizens Bank Park. Lefthander Paul Maholm will take the mound for the Pirates to start this game. Maholm is 7-7 this season with a 3.95 ERA. Maholm's opponent in this one will be Joe Blanton. The Phillies ace righthander has a 4.94 ERA to go along with a 6-12 record this season. NewBodog oddsmakers currently have the Phillies listed as 173-moneyline favorites versus the Pirates, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Jeff Karstens tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout on Wednesday, as the Pirates defeated the Diamondbacks 2-0. The Pirates won the game as +210 underdogs, while the team's played UNDER the posted over/under (9). Doug Mientkiewicz and Freddy Sanchez drove in the runs for Pittsburgh. Karstens improved to 2-0 with the win. The Phillies were blanked 3-0 in the rubber match by the Marlins on Thursday, as -210 favorites. The team's played UNDER the day's posted over/under (9). Cole Hamels gave up three runs off seven hits over 6 1-3 innings in the loss. Team records: Pittsburgh: 52-62 SU Philadelphia: 62-52 SU Pittsburgh most recently: When playing on Friday are 6-4 Before playing Philadelphia are 3-7 After playing Arizona are 5-5 After a win are 4-6 Philadelphia most recently: When playing on Friday are 5-5 Before playing Pittsburgh are 8-2 After playing Florida are 6-4 After a loss are 6-4 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games when playing Philadelphia The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Pittsburgh's last 8 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games on the road Philadelphia is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh The total has gone OVER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 8 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh Philadelphia is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing Pittsburgh Next up: Philadelphia home to Pittsburgh, Saturday, August 9