- Apr 7, 2008
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SPORTS ADVISORS
Philadelphia (6-2) at L.A. Dodgers (4-4)
Now just one win away from their first trip to the World Series in 15 years, the Phillies will hand the ball to ace Cole Hamels (16-10, 2.97 ERA), who is set to oppose Chad Billingsley (17-11, 3.35) in Game 5 of the best-of-7 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Philadelphia stormed back from a 5-3, eighth-inning deficit on Monday and stunned the Dodgers 7-5, scoring four runs in the eighth inning thanks to a pair of two-run home runs by Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs. It marked the first win by the road team in 12 head-to-head meetings between these teams this year, and in fact the Phillies snapped a six-game losing skid at Dodger Stadium with the win.
The Phillies carry a bunch of positive streaks into this game, including 20-7 overall, 7-3 on the road (2-2 in the playoffs), 8-1 against the N.L. West, 21-8 versus teams with a winning record, 24-9 against right-handed starters, 12-3 after an off day and 4-1 with Hamels on the hill (2-0 in the playoffs). Also, since getting swept in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium in early August, Charlie Manuel?s club has ripped off seven wins in eight tries against Los Angeles.
The Dodgers are now 1-10 in their last 11 games against N.L. East competition. However, despite falling in a 3-1 hole in this series, they remain on runs of 23-11 overall, 20-7 at home, 9-3 against southpaw starters, 9-2 after a defeat, 6-1 following an off day and 4-1 on Wednesdays. L.A. is also 5-2 in Billingsley?s last seven starts overall and 6-1 in his last seven outings at home.
Hamels locked down the Dodgers in Game 1, giving up just two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings en route to a 3-2 victory. Hamels has faced the Dodgers three times in his career ? all this season ? and posted identical numbers of two runs allowed in seven innings in each contest, going 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA while walking a total of four and striking out 20. However, in his one outing at Dodger Stadium, he got a no-decision in his team?s 4-3 loss.
Hamels has given up two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts and 11 of his last 12, and he?s 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his two playoff efforts in 2008, both of which came at home. On the highway this year, the lefty went 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 16 trips to the mound.
Billingsley was brilliant in his first career playoff start in Game 2 against the Cubs on Oct. 2, allowing a run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 10-3 road win. However, he followed that up with his worst and shortest stint of the season in Friday?s 8-5 Game 2 loss at Philadelphia. The young right-hander gave up all eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings.
Prior to Friday, Billingsley had faced the Phillies three times over the past two regular seasons, going 1-1 with a 4.01 ERA. On the bright side, he was awesome at Dodger Stadium this year, going 10-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts).
The over is 6-0-1 in Billingsley?s last seven starts overall (2-0 in the playoffs), but the Phillies have stayed low in each of Hamels? last four outings, including both in the postseason.
The over is 19-7-2 in the last 28 head-to-head clashes at Dodger Stadium, including 4-1-1 this year and 2-0 in this series. Also, the over for the Dodgers is on streaks of 5-2 overall, 5-1 at home, 5-1 against the N.L. East, 9-3-3 versus lefty starters and 6-0 on Wednesdays. Finally, since Game 1 in both League Championship Series? stayed under the total, the over is on a 6-0 run in the ALCS and NLCS.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
Philadelphia (6-2) at L.A. Dodgers (4-4)
Now just one win away from their first trip to the World Series in 15 years, the Phillies will hand the ball to ace Cole Hamels (16-10, 2.97 ERA), who is set to oppose Chad Billingsley (17-11, 3.35) in Game 5 of the best-of-7 National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Philadelphia stormed back from a 5-3, eighth-inning deficit on Monday and stunned the Dodgers 7-5, scoring four runs in the eighth inning thanks to a pair of two-run home runs by Shane Victorino and Matt Stairs. It marked the first win by the road team in 12 head-to-head meetings between these teams this year, and in fact the Phillies snapped a six-game losing skid at Dodger Stadium with the win.
The Phillies carry a bunch of positive streaks into this game, including 20-7 overall, 7-3 on the road (2-2 in the playoffs), 8-1 against the N.L. West, 21-8 versus teams with a winning record, 24-9 against right-handed starters, 12-3 after an off day and 4-1 with Hamels on the hill (2-0 in the playoffs). Also, since getting swept in a four-game series at Dodger Stadium in early August, Charlie Manuel?s club has ripped off seven wins in eight tries against Los Angeles.
The Dodgers are now 1-10 in their last 11 games against N.L. East competition. However, despite falling in a 3-1 hole in this series, they remain on runs of 23-11 overall, 20-7 at home, 9-3 against southpaw starters, 9-2 after a defeat, 6-1 following an off day and 4-1 on Wednesdays. L.A. is also 5-2 in Billingsley?s last seven starts overall and 6-1 in his last seven outings at home.
Hamels locked down the Dodgers in Game 1, giving up just two runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in seven innings en route to a 3-2 victory. Hamels has faced the Dodgers three times in his career ? all this season ? and posted identical numbers of two runs allowed in seven innings in each contest, going 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA while walking a total of four and striking out 20. However, in his one outing at Dodger Stadium, he got a no-decision in his team?s 4-3 loss.
Hamels has given up two earned runs or fewer in five straight starts and 11 of his last 12, and he?s 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his two playoff efforts in 2008, both of which came at home. On the highway this year, the lefty went 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 16 trips to the mound.
Billingsley was brilliant in his first career playoff start in Game 2 against the Cubs on Oct. 2, allowing a run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 10-3 road win. However, he followed that up with his worst and shortest stint of the season in Friday?s 8-5 Game 2 loss at Philadelphia. The young right-hander gave up all eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings.
Prior to Friday, Billingsley had faced the Phillies three times over the past two regular seasons, going 1-1 with a 4.01 ERA. On the bright side, he was awesome at Dodger Stadium this year, going 10-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts).
The over is 6-0-1 in Billingsley?s last seven starts overall (2-0 in the playoffs), but the Phillies have stayed low in each of Hamels? last four outings, including both in the postseason.
The over is 19-7-2 in the last 28 head-to-head clashes at Dodger Stadium, including 4-1-1 this year and 2-0 in this series. Also, the over for the Dodgers is on streaks of 5-2 overall, 5-1 at home, 5-1 against the N.L. East, 9-3-3 versus lefty starters and 6-0 on Wednesdays. Finally, since Game 1 in both League Championship Series? stayed under the total, the over is on a 6-0 run in the ALCS and NLCS.
ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER
