Phillies at Astros MLB Picks: The 2010 MLB season is hardly a week old and the folks in Houston are already nervous as the Astros are 0-4 on the season, all losses at home, after getting swept in three games by the Giants followed by a loss on Friday by the defending National League champions, Philadelphia Phillies. Saturday, the Astros will look to get into the win column when they face the Phillies and veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer (7:05 p.m. ET). The Phillies jumped out of the gate this season by taking two of three games from the Nationals on the road at Nats Park. Houston will pin its hopes on young righthander Philipe Paulino, making his first start this season.
MLB Picks oddsmakers at online sportsbook BetUS.com list the Phillies as -160 moneyline favorites versus the Astros with a 9 1/2 total. Houston backers are getting +140 moneyline odds as a home underdog.Moyer earned the fifth spot in the Phillies' pitching rotation in spite of three offseason surgeries, that many thought would have put him behind schedule once Spring Training began in February. Moyer defied the odds, and at 47 showed up in good shape to win the spot.
Paulino battled back spasms at the end of Spring Training and was scratched from starting Saturday's exhibition finale against Toronto at Minute Maid Park, even though he told manager Brad Mills he was ready to pitch. The Astros wanted to be cautious with the often-injured right-hander who won the No. 5 spot in the rotation by having a good spring (1-1 with a 3.78 ERA in five games, including four starts). Paulino went 3-11 with a 6.27 ERA in 23 games (17 starts) for the Astros last year. He's 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in one career start against Philadelphia.
MLB Picks: Gamblers should expect plenty of runs to cross the plate in this game. Take the OVER 9 1/2.
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