The Philadelphia Phillies are favored in baseball betting at Washington on Saturday in the second game of a three-game series. The Phillies have been playing well lately and they are putting some pressure on Atlanta in the National League East. Philadelphia turns to Joe Blanton on Saturday in this MLB betting matchup. Baseball betting odds point to the Phillies in this game even with Blanton on the mound. Blanton is just 4-6 with a 5.85 ERA this season. He was better last time out against Colorado as he allowed just two runs in six innings. In his last three starts, Blanton is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA. He has not pitched very well in his career against the Nationals going 2-3 with a 6.51 ERA.
The Nationals are expected to go with Ross Detwiler on Saturday. In his first start since recovering from hip surgery, he allowed five runs on three hits to Milwaukee. He is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in two career starts vs. the Phillies.
The Phillies have really dominated the Nationals in baseball betting. Before yesterday’s game they had won 16 of the last 20 vs. Washington. The teams played two series back in April and the Phillies won four of the six games including two of three in Washington. What is also interesting about those games is that all six went over the total in MLB betting.
The Phillies have not been as good this season on the road as in past years. If they are to catch the Braves they will probably need to improve their road mark. They will get that chance as they face the Nationals this weekend and then the Marlins early next week.
Washington is not a great team but they have been solid at home. The question to answer before this game is whether or not the Nationals still have Adam Dunn in the lineup. He has been mentioned in trade rumors so if you are considering the Nationals you may want to check the starting lineup before this game begins. Dunn leads the Nationals in home runs and his bat would be missed. Washington is not that great in runs scored as it is, so if they lose Dunn they would likely struggle even more.