Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers MLB Playoff Game 3 Predictions
Written October 4, 2008 by Jack Jones
The Philadelphia Phillies were swept out of the playoffs a year ago by the Colorado Rockies, but this year they will try to return the favor to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers aren’t doing much to impress after making the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. The current odds show that Milwaukee has a slight edge in the game tonight, and if you are looking to bet the Brewers the best odds are at Bookmaker at -115.
Last year Philly ended a 13-year playoff drought of their own, but left with a bad taste in their mouths after the sweep. This year they have looked a little better, getting a solid start from Cole Hamels in Game 1, and then a big grand slam off of Shane Victorino to beat the Brewers and ace CC Sabathia in Game 2. That was the first of Victorino’s career and the first ever for a Phillie in the postseason.
Philadelphia now just needs one game for their first series win since they beat the Braves in the 1993 NLCS. The Phillies went on to lose to the Toronto Bluejays in the World Series. The odds are strong they will get back to the NLCS, since no National League team has come back from an 0-2 deficit to win the series. It’s happened 16 times, and 13 of those times have been sweeps. So if you think Philly can make it 14, then the best odds on the Phillies are at BetUS with the line at +108.
If the Brewers are going to put a hold on Philadelphia’s run through the playoffs they are going to have to do a better job of hitting the ball. This team was hot entering the post-season, having won six of their last seven games to overtake the New York Mets, but they have scored just three runs and only have seven hits in the first two games.
Prince Fielder is supposed to be the center of the offense, but so far has been a dragging anchor so far in the playoffs. He ended the last 18 games of the regular season on a tear batting .391, but is now 0-for-7 against the Phillies with three strikeouts. He probably won’t have a solid chance to get back on track tonight since he hit only .239 against lefties this year.
That lefty he will be facing is the crafty veteran Jamie Moyer, who went 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA this year. Moyer is 3-1 in the playoffs with a 2.43 ERA, and last year was solid in his lone start against Colorado. Moyer held the Rockies to just one run and five hits over six innings as the Phillies lost 2-1 to complete the sweep.
Dave Bush starts for the Brewers and this will be his first start in the postseason. He has made six career starts against the Phillies, but hasn’t recorded a decision despite a 5.88 ERA.
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