First place in the NL East will be on the line on Tuesday when the Phillies and Mets kickoff a three-game set at Shea Stadium. Meanwhile, the battle for second place in the competitive NL Central also heats up when the Brewers tangle with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Tuesday's pitching matchup in New York sees Joe Blanton get his first start for the Phillies, while Johan Santana takes the mound for the Mets. Blanton was 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA for Oakland before being sent to the Phillies in a deal late last week.
Santana, who is 8-7 with a 3.10 ERA, only went four innings in his last start after giving up five runs, including a pair of homers, to the Reds. But the Phillies are 21-14 vs. LHP starters this year and sure won't like being +165 road underdogs [1] (which they are at online sportsbook ) to the hated Mets.
In St. Louis on Tuesday, the Brewers will welcome Jeff Suppan back from the DL, while the Cardinals look to get yet another win out of Kyle Lohse. Suppan has missed the last two weeks with a bad elbow.
The elbow was a problem for Suppan in his last start against the Pirates two weeks ago when he was roughed up for six runs in three innings. Lohse cruised past the Padres in his last start, allowing two runs in seven innings.
Lohse is now 9-0 in his last 13 starts and opens at -145 home moneyline chalk at . Click here for the full matchup report [2].
On Wednesday, the Phillies move Brett Myers back into the rotation, and the Mets give the ball to John Maine. Myers has been finding his form again in the minors after starting the season 3-9 with a 5.84 ERA.
In his last start before getting sent down Myers gave up five runs in only two innings versus the Rangers. Maine had a tough time in his last start against the Reds after he allowed five runs on five hits, while walking five, in 4 2-3 innings.
The Brewers will start lefty CC Sabathia on Wednesday, while the Cardinals will start Braden Looper. Sabathia is 3-0 since joining the Brewers after pitching a complete game against the Giants in his last start.
Sabathia held the Giants to one run on four hits while striking out 10 in the win. Looper got shelled in his last start against the Padres, giving up six runs in only three innings.
The Phillies used to own the Mets at Shea Stadium, having won there seven straight times before losing their last two games in New York. The Mets have been on a tear at home lately with seven straight wins in the sometimes-friendly confines of Shea.
Totals bettors may want to take the OVER when the Brewers and Cardinals clash. Milwaukee has been crushing the ball at the plate lately, and they have posted three-straight OVER results and eight OVER results in their last nine games.
The Cardinals have also been on an OVER tear lately, with three straight OVER results and five OVER results in their last six games. Check out the latest baseball moneyline odds [3], as well as runline and other bets to be made.