2009 World Series Game Two
Philadelphia leads series 1-0
Philadelphia Phillies Pedro Martinez +200, 9 O/U at New York
Yankees A.J. Burnett -200, 9 O/U, Yankees Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.,
7:57 PM EST, Thursday, October 29th, TV: Fox
by Badger of Predictem.com
The New York Yankees face a nearly must-win situation in game two of
the World Series tonight in Yankee Stadium, and theyll ask their
other big offseason pitching acquisition A.J. Burnett to try and
deliver it for them against the Philadelphia Phillies and a familiar
pitching foe, Pedro Martinez.
Last night in game one it was Phillies lefty Cliff Lee who outdueled the Yankees lefty CC Sabathia, throwing a complete-game six-hitter while only giving up one unearned run in the Phillies 6-1 victory.
Sabathia only gave up two runs, both of them coming on solo homeruns
from Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, before the Yankees bullpen
gave up four runs in the final two frames to turn the outcome into a
no-doubter.
Burnett will try and get the Yankees back to even in the series
before it shifts to Philadelphia tonight, and hell go up against a
face very familiar to the Yankees when Pedro trots out to the bump in
the bottom half of the first inning.
Oddsmakers originally opened the game with Burnett and the Yankees as
-180 favorites on the moneyline, but the action has been pouring in
on the Yankees following the opening game loss so the number has been
adjusted upward to -200 at most offshore sportsbooks. Pedro and the
Phillies are now +190 on the dimeline or +185 to +180 at the
sportsbooks that dont offer reduced juice.
The over/under total is currently listed at 9 runs. The runline bet
is currently listed at Phillies +1.5 at -115, with the Yankees listed
at -1.5 at -105.
Burnett have pitched fairly well in the playoffs thus far, winning
his first two starts against the Minnesota Twins and the LA Angels,
but he was tagged with the loss in game five in the Angels series
after giving up six runs on eight hits through six innings. His
bullpen didnt help him much in that loss however, as Philip Hughes
was unable to out of the inning after inheriting a few base runners
that Burnett put on to start the frame.
All told Burnett is 2-1 with a 4.42 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP in the
playoff thus far. Burnett faced the Phillies earlier this season in
interleague play and that didnt go so well either, as he was tagged
for five runs on eight hits in six innings of a 7-3 loss.
Martinez has only made one start in the postseason thus far, in a
game that turned into a 2-1 victory for the Dodgers. But as the score
would indicate, he pitched exceptionally well in the game allowing
just two hits in seven innings before the Phillies bullpen
(specifically Chan Ho Park) blew the one-run lead in the late innings.
Pedro has had quite a history as the Red Sox ace versus these Yankees
too, and Im not talking about him throwing the Yanks old bench coach
Don Zimmer to the ground either. Pedro has 32 career starts against
the Yankees and is 11-11 with a 3.20 ERA, a solid .211 opposing team
batting average and a spectacular .281 on-base percentage.
Out of all of the Yankees regulars, Alex Rodriguez has had the most
success hitting .291 against the righty. Catcher Jorge Posada has had
the best power numbers, hitting four homeruns and driving in 10 runs
in 69 career plate appearances against Pedro.
The Yankees will need A-Rod and Posada to pick it up tonight too, as
A-Rod was held hitless with three strikeouts last night against Lee
and Posada has one of the Yankees six hits. Derek Jeter was the lone
offensive spark for the Yanks, going 3-for-4 and scoring the only run
of the game on a Jimmy Rollins throwing error.
Yankee manager Joe Girardi might put seldom used utility player Jerry
Hairston into the lineup tonight, as he is .370 lifetime versus Pedro
(only 31 PAs) and he could replace Nick Swisher in right field.
Swisher went 0-fer again last night and is just 4-for-35 in the
playoffs this season.
The Phillies lineup should be able to keep plugging away at Burnett
tonight, as the first six hitters in the lineup all had at least one
hit last night. Although many of those hits came in the last two
innings after Sabathia was sitting next to Girardi on the bench.
BET ON THE MLB PLAYOFFS AT REDUCED
JUICE AT 5DIMES
The Phillies will also have a fresh bullpen since Lee went the
distance last night. The Yankees on the other hand used five
relievers after Sabathia last night, although none of them pitched
more than two-thirds of an inning, so they all should be available
again if needed.
Badgers Pick: A must-win game for the Yankees means a lot of extra
pressure on Burnett tonight, and Im not sure hes up to the task. I
expect the Phillies to come out swinging early in the count at
fastballs too since theres really no pressure to win tonight, trying
to get to Burnett before he can throw his big Uncle Charley. The
best bet tonight might be on the over of 9, but Im all about value
so Im taking the Phillies at +190 tonight.