MLB Betting: World Series Game 6 Betting Preview
by Bodog Sportsbook | Nov 3 2009
The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen almost blew it again. But the World Series will go on. The Phillies withstood a late Monday night rally by the New York Yankees to win 8-6 and extend the series to a Game 6, in New York on Wednesday (7:57 p.m. ET, FOX).
Here's the tale of the tape from the first five games.
Oct. 28: Phillies 6, Yankees 1 (Phillies +165, under 7.5)
Oct. 29: Phillies 1, Yankees 3 (Yankees -200, under 9)
Oct. 31: Yankees 8, Phillies 5 (Yankees -120, over 9)
Nov. 1: Yankees 7, Phillies 4 (Yankees -170, over 8.5)
Nov. 2: Yankees 6, Phillies 8 (Phillies -155, over 8.5)
The common denominator for the Phillies is that Cliff Lee was the starting pitcher in each of their two victories. He went the distance in Game 1 and carried an 8-2 lead into the eighth inning of Game 5 before the Yankees made it interesting. The score was 8-5 by the ninth, and Ryan Madson twice had the tying run at the plate before finally striking out Mark Teixeira to end the game.
New York still holds a 3-2 advantage going back to Yankee Stadium, but the advantage isn't as big as it seems. Yankees manager Joe Girardi decided to go with the same three-man rotation for this series that he's used during the entire MLB playoffs. Phillies counterpart Charlie Manuel was considering the same tactic, but ultimately decided to stick with the usual four starters. That means Pedro Martinez will pitch Wednesday night on four days' rest against Game 3 winner Andy Pettitte, who hasn't pitched on three days' rest all season.
The Yankees also find themselves with an injury problem. OF Melky Cabrera (.752 OPS during the regular season) is out for the remainder of the World Series after straining his left hamstring in Game 4. This left the lighter-hitting Brett Gardner (.724 OPS) to start in center field on Monday; he went 0-for-4 at the plate. Although neither Cabrera nor Gardner will be confused for Mickey Mantle, the one weak spot in the Yankees batting order is now that much weaker.
Phillies supporters have to feel pretty good about their chances in Game 6, even if they'll be considerable underdogs (check Bodog Sports for the current MLB odds on this matchup). Martinez may be way past his prime at age 38, but he's certainly well rested after signing late in the year and pitching in just nine regular season games (3.63 ERA, 1.25 WHIP), and his junkball repertoire was good enough to hold New York to three runs in Game 2. Including the playoffs, Martinez has pitched the Phillies to eight wins in 11 starts for 6.42 units in earnings. Pettitte (4.16 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) is 5.19 units in the black on a team record of 24-12.
If there is a Game 7, it'll be on Thursday night (7:57 p.m. ET, FOX) with CC Sabathia facing Cole Hamels, who has yet to complete six innings this postseason after winning the 2008 World Series MVP. We'll see if he gets a chance at redemption.
