The featured Sunday night ESPN Major League Baseball game will be played between the Philadelphia Phillies (61-55) and the Atlanta Braves (62-55) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Veteran LHP Jamie Moyer (10-8, 4.70 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Phillies while the Braves will counter with RHP Buddy Carlyle (7-3, 4.28 ERA). Carlyle's only previous start against the Phillies came in his season debut on May 26, when he was pounded for five runs in four innings of a 6-4 home loss. Moyer allowed three runs in seven innings of an 8-3 win on May 25 in his lone start against the Braves this year and is just 2-6 with a 5.04 ERA in nine career appearances against them.
Oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com currently have the Phillies listed as -112-moneyline favorites versus the Braves, while the game's total is sitting at 11. Atlanta's Kelly Johnson homered and drove in three runs in Saturday's 7-5 win at Philadelphia, coming in as -100 road underdogs. The 12 runs scored were OVER the posted total of 11.5.
On the heels of taking two games of a three game set against the Mets, Atlanta needs a win today to remain up on the Phillies and hot on the heels of the Mets. Currently the Braves enjoy a slim half-game lead over Philadelphia and only trail the Mets in the East by 1.5 games in the standings.
In the only other game to be played under the stars Sunday will be in the American League with the Texas Rangers (50-66) hosting the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (45-71) at Ameriquest Field.Â
The Devil Rays will trot Jason Hammel out to the mound in this one. Right hander Hammel has a 0-1 record and a 6.06 ERA this season. Hammel's opponent in this one will be Kason Gabbard. The Rangers lefthander has a 3.93 ERA to go along with a 5-1 record this season.Â
Oddsmakers currently have the Rangers listed as 155-moneyline favorites versus the Devil Rays, while the game's total is sitting at 10½. Tampa Bay's Edwin Jackson scattered four hits in a complete-game performance during Saturday's 3-0 win at Texas, coming in as 105 road underdogs. The three runs scored were UNDER the posted total of 11.
Jackson (4-11) struck out eight and walked one, and Delmon Young was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Devil Rays.Texas had no answer for Jackson, and fell as -115 home favorites.John Rheinecker (1-1) gave up three runs on six hits over six innings, while Michael Young was 1-for-4 for the Rangers.
