The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies meet on Saturday in MLB action from Citizens Bank Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. Here’s a Phillies vs Dodgers prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Phillies vs Dodgers pick.
Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview
The Dodgers played the Cubs in Tokyo during their first two games in the middle of the month, coming away with a pair of victories 4-1 and 6-3. Los Angeles kicked off the rest of the season with a sweep of the Detroit Tigers, winning 5-4, 8-5, and 7-3 in those matchups. The Dodgers kept their run going earlier this week versus the Atlanta Braves. LA swept those three games 6-1, 3-1, and 6-5. In the Wednesday victory, Los Angeles got three runs in the final two innings, completing the comeback from an early 5-0 deficit. Shohei Ohtani (three hits), Michael Conforto (two hits; three runs,) and Tommy Edman (two hits; two RBI) each had a home run in the victory. Starter Blake Snell went 4.0 innings with no earned, five hits, and four walks.
In their Friday series opener versus the Phillies, the Dodgers scored twice in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to make the comeback in a 3-2 loss. Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto put up 6.0 clean frames with three hits, three walks, and five Ks.
In the starting pitcher role for Saturday, Los Angeles will go with Roki Sasaki. In his two starts so far, Sasaki hasn’t notched a decision yet. He pitched 4.2 innings total during his rookie campaign, logging a 5.79 ERA from three earned runs.
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview
Over on the Phillies’ side, they opened up their season versus the Washington Nationals. Philadelphia won the first two installments of that set 7-3 and 11-6, but couldn’t complete the sweep after a 5-1 defeat on Sunday. Philly got back on the horse during their second series versus the Colorado Rockies, winning all three games 6-1, 5-1, and 3-1. In the Thursday victory, Philadelphia notched 11 team hits. JT Realmuto had three of them alongside a walk and a run in a 3-for-3 day. Kyle Schwarber added two runs and a solo homer, while Bryce Harper put up two hits and an RBI. Taijuan Walker had a nice start with 6.0 clean frames, three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
Matched up against Los Angeles on Friday, the Phillies had just five hits (and gave up five as well) in the win. Jesus Luzardo bagged 7.0 innings with two hits, two walks, eight Ks, and no earned runs in the starting role.
It’ll be Aaron Nola on the mound for the starting pitcher job on Saturday. Nola took a loss in his lone start this season, posting five earned in 5.1 innings of work. Over his career, Nola is 104-80 with a 3.72 ERA in 269 games total.
Why the Philadelphia Phillies will win
- The Phillies have won each of their last nine home games against NL West opponents.
- The Dodgers have lost seven of their last eight games at Citizens Bank Park.
- The Phillies have covered the run line in eight of their last nine home games against NL West opponents.
- The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games at Citizens Bank Park.
- The Phillies have won the first inning in four of their last five home games against opponents that held a winning record.
- The Dodgers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last five games at Citizens Bank Park against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Phillies have led after 5 innings in eight of their last nine home games against NL West opponents.
Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win
- The Dodgers have won each of their last six games after playing the previous day.
- The Phillies have lost five of their last six day games against the Dodgers following a win.
- The Dodgers have covered the run line in each of their last six road games following a loss.
- The Phillies have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight day games at Citizens Bank Park following a win.
- The Dodgers have led after 3 innings in six of their last eight day games against NL East opponents.
- The Phillies have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Phillies’ last six home games against NL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Nine of the Dodgers’ last 10 road games against NL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Dodgers’ last nine Saturday games against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Phillies’ last six day games.
Phillies vs Dodgers Prediction
I’m going to stay with the Dodgers. We haven’t seen a lot out of Sasaki so far this year, but he’s got a bit of work to do in bringing that ERA down. Sasaki did have a good spring, though, notching 7.0 innings across two games (one start). He gave up three hits and had zero earned runs in that pair. As for Nola, he didn’t exactly get off to a good start this year. On March 30, versus the Nationals, Nola took the loss on 5.1 innings, five earned, no walks, and eight strikeouts. With a career 3.72 ERA, Nola is obviously better than that. He should bounce back in this one, but matching up against the Dodgers’ bats will be tricky.
On Friday, LA couldn’t get much going until it was too late. The Dodgers did get a nice outing from Yamamoto in the start, however, and if Sasaki can replicate it, Los Angeles will take a win Saturday.