Kenta Maeda (10-7, 3.22 ERA) and Vince Velasquez (8-3, 3.33 ERA) are on the hill in the second of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers (63-49) and the Philadelphia Phillies (52-62) at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers won the last game 9-4, and Los Angeles leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 10:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 9 and can be seen on CSPh and SNLA.
Maeda pitched 5.2 innings in his last outing, surrendering two runs and striking out five in a 4-2 win over the Rockies. Corey Seager (.302, 73 Rs, 21 HRs, 54 RBIs, 1 SB) continued his strong play yesterday, going 2 for 4 with two runs, two home runs, and two RBIs. Velasquez went 5.0 innings, surrendering two runs, striking out six and walking three in a 3-2 defeat to the Giants in his most recent start. Maikel Franco (.250, 46 Rs, 20 HRs, 66 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run.
This one isn’t expected to be close when Los Angeles, a big -190 favorite, takes on Philadelphia. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently seven runs. Though the Dodgers have had a tough season in terms of their overall money line (-137), they have done fairly well as a favorite with a record of 55-30. It’s been a struggle for opposing teams to score runs against the Dodgers. The 3.8 runs that Los Angeles’s pitchers allow per game makes them the fourth-ranked staff in the NL. The Dodgers are the second-best team in the league at limiting hits and walks to their opponents, recording a WHIP of 1.133 so far this season. Opponents have consistently been struck out by the Dodgers, who lead the NL in strikeouts per game with 9.4.
In games where it is the underdog, Philadelphia has a 35-48 record and an overall money line of +482. They played solid baseball as the underdog over their last 10 games with a 5-2 record and a 6-4 record SU. Offensively, the Phillies have really picked up the pace in the last 10 games. They have exceeded their season average of 3.7 runs per game by averaging 5.6 during that stretch.
The Dodgers have the edge in the season series, 1-0. The Dodgers have a 48-35 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Velasquez takes the mound. Maeda (RHP) will be on the hill against the Phillies, who have a 40-49 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAD, O/U – Over
Notes
The Dodgers are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Phillies have a 21-44 record when opponents give up two walks or less.
When they are outhit, the Phillies are 11-50. The Dodgers have an 11-35 record when opponents outhit them.
Philadelphia ranks near the bottom of the league at 22nd when it comes to home runs, hitting 112 this season. Los Angeles ranks in the bottom half with 128.
Ranking 14th, Philadelphia is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.04 per game. Los Angeles ranks in the top 10 at ninth with 8.36.
Los Angeles and Philadelphia both rank near the bottom of the league for their on-base plus slugging percentage. Los Angeles sits at 21st with an OPS of .724, and Philadelphia ranks 29th with an OPS of .683.
When the Phillies allow at least one home run, they are 21-48. When the Dodgers allow one or more homers, they have a 28-37 record.
