Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley has a gargantuan responsibility tonight, not only must he beat Philadelphia to keep his team from being eliminated for the National League pennant


2008-10-15

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley has a gargantuan responsibility tonight, not only must he beat Philadelphia to keep his team from being eliminated for the National League pennant, he needs to go deep into the game to do so, since the Dodgers bullpen proved to be easier to score on than an experienced Madden 08 game player with full year behind him. If that wasn’t enough, the respect of his teammates is also at stake having in their mind not backed up Manny Ramirez when he was tossed at in Game 2.

Billingsley (17-11, 3.38 ERA) looks to atone for his awful Game 2 performance. He allowed a season-high eight runs, eight hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. The Los Angeles bullpen is also seeking atonement, giving up five runs Monday while allowing six hits and three walks in four innings. Previous to this debacle, they had thrown 11 1/3 scoreless innings in this series. All these negatives occurring are not a complete surprise with L.A. 16-23 vs. NL teams scoring 4.8 or more runs a game and 13-20 teams averaging 1.25 or more home runs a game this season.

Philadelphia is nicely situated to close out the series, having their ace Cole Hamels (16-10, 2.97) as the starting pitcher. Hamels has won five of his last seven starts (both playoff appearances) and has allowed more than two runs just once in this streak. The lefty enters Wednesday knowing a similar performance could be enough to send Philadelphia to its first World Series since 1993. “This one is definitely important just for the fact that we almost are there,” Hamels said. “We’re almost to the World Series. We’re almost at the chance of becoming world champions.”

Sportsbook.com has the Phillies as -115 road favorites with a total of Un7.5. There are many reasons to believe they can close this series out. Start with momentum they have created being 14-4 after win. They have won eight of last 11 against right-hand starters and are 12-3 after a day off.

The total may look and feel like it should be Under, but not necessarily. In 11 of the last dozen games played at Dodger Stadium between these two teams the Over has been the right choice. Los Angeles is 9-3-1 Over when facing a team with a winning record and the Phillies are 7-2 Over after allowing five or more runs. For good measure, Philadelphia is 10-2 against the money line after three or more consecutive Overs this season.

It’s all on the line for the Dodgers who are really up against it, as the team with a 3-1 lead in the NLCS has won nine of last 11 series.
Tonight’s opening pitch is set for 8:22 Eastern in Fox.
StatFox Power Line – Philadelphia -117