Giants Phillies Betting – Tuesday, August 17, 7:05 PM ET
Barry Zito (8-6, 3.44) took his third straight no-decision in a 5-4 win at home over the Cubs, allowing four runs on 10 hits over 6.1 innings, striking out four and walking one. This was also the third time in four starts that Zito was taken deep twice, but only six of his 16 homers allowed have come on the road, where he is 2-4 with a 4.30 ERA in 11 starts. The 32-year-old southpaw has faced the Phillies just four times in his career, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
If this were NCAA football betting, Roy Oswalt (7-13, 3.34) would be a four-year starter and one of those players you think has a reasonable chance at winning the Heisman each year. Oswalt got his first win in his third Philadelphia start, tossing a five-hitter over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 shutout of the Dodgers at home. Oswalt also struck out five and walked two against the Dodgers, showing why the Phillies were so gung-ho on getting him. The 32-year-ild righthander is probably still getting used to being in a pennant race after years of wallowing in Houston, but at least he has decent numbers against the Giants, going 5-8 in 16 career starts with a 3.59 ERA when facing San Francisco.
MLB betting odds should favor the Phillies at home, even though Zito has won his lone start at Citizens Bank Park in his career. Oswalt looked like the pitcher we all know he is in his last outing, and being in a playoff hunt should rejuvenate him. However, the Phillies are going to have to give him some run support, and they've scored just eight runs in his three starts since joining Philadelphia. Oswalt is dead last among 32 pitchers who have tossed at least 140 innings, and that has to grind on a pitcher, no matter how good you are, to have to feel like you must toss a scoreless game every time you take to the mound. This series is important to the big picture because even though these two are battling for the lead in their divisions, the Giants and Phillies were also tied for the lead in the wild-card standings heading into the opening game of this series on Tuesday, which means this game is even more crucial.
Online sports betting pick: Philadelphia