It takes great pitching to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, a team who opponents know will be sending some of the best arms to the mound. Tonight, the Seattle Mariners get a chance to upend the Phillies for the second straight night and will be pinning their hopes on one of the best right-handers in either league, Felix Hernandez. It will be up to Phillies rookie lefty Vancy Worley to show he deserves to be on the same field as Hernandez when he counters.
With Hernandez and Worley scheduled as starters, oddsmakers at most offshore sports shops list Seattle as -142 MLB Odds favorites to win tonight's game with a combined game-score total of 6 1/2-runs.
Hernandez comes into tonight's game with a record of 7-5 to go with a 3.30 ERA. If Hernandez is to beat the Phillies he had better keep the walks down, his achiles heel this season with 35 passes with 14 of those coming over his last four starts.
Worley has been up and down this season from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, last pitching in a Phillies uniform agaist the Mets May 29. The Phillies have been looking at different starters in the five-slot while Joe Blanton, who normally owns that spot mends on the DL. Worley's minor-league record is 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA.
Seattle won their inter-league series opener 4-2 against the NL East leaders getting strong pitching from their starter Michael Pineda. Phillies starter left-hander Roy Oswalt was credited with the loss. The Mariners won as slight -106 moneyline favorites while the six-runs to cross the plate scored for UNDER bettors.
Early MLB Odds betting trends show public moneyline betting heavier (56%) on the Phillies while 89% are taking the OVER in totals wagering.
