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PHILADELPHIA (96 - 70) at LA DODGERS (98 - 67) - 8:05 PM
COLE HAMELS (L) vs. CLAYTON KERSHAW (L)
Top Trends for this game.
HAMELS is 16-17 (-12.6 Units) against the money line in all games this season. (Team's Record)
HAMELS is 16-16 (-11.4 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season. (Team's Record)
HAMELS is 6-11 (-11.0 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season. (Team's Record)
LA DODGERS are 45-32 (+8.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
LA DODGERS are 98-67 (+11.1 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
LA DODGERS are 19-6 (+10.7 Units) against the money line as a home favorite of -125 to -150 this season.
LA DODGERS are 98-67 (+11.1 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 199-143 (+14.4 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 50-33 (+12.7 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 47-30 (+12.0 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 71-52 (+14.6 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 64-38 (+16.3 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 14-4 (+10.3 Units) against the money line in playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-20 (+8.1 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-16 (+17.3 Units) against the money line in road games when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 59-37 (+12.8 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
KERSHAW is 9-13 (-11.0 Units) against the money line in night games this season. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
LA DODGERS is 4-3 (+1.2 Units) against PHILADELPHIA this season
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+1.9 Units)

COLE HAMELS vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
HAMELS is 4-0 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 1.64 and a WHIP of 0.932.
His team's record is 4-2 (+1.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-3. (-2.1 units)

CLAYTON KERSHAW vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
KERSHAW is 0-3 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 6.64 and a WHIP of 1.574.
His team's record is 1-3 (-2.0 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 2-1. (+0.9 units)

Game 951-952: Philadelphia at LA Dodgers
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Hamels) 15.669; LA Dodgers 16.078
Dunkel Line: LA Dodgers by 1/2; 6 1/2
Vegas Line: LA Dodgers (-115); 7 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LA Dodgers (-115); Under

Philadelphia at LA Dodgers, 8:00 ET
Cole Hamels (L) vs. Randy Wolf (L)

Hamels:
6-0 Under in playoff games
PHI 5-0 Under in Game One's

Wolf:
34-12 TSR in home starts
8-2 Under on Friday

8:05 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. LA DODGERS
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
Philadelphia is 4-8 SU in their last 12 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers
LA Dodgers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games
LA Dodgers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home

Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers (-136, 7.5)

The Dodgers sure had us fooled. Not many people expected the club to get past the Cards. Los Angeles’ second-half coast (31-28 since July 31) lulled bettors to sleep. How could you be impressed with that type of ho-hum record when division rival Colorado was tearing it up?

But then Joe Torre’s team went out and swept St. Louis, beating up Cy Young favorites Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in the process.

For their second act, the Dodgers will try to earn a spot in the World Series and gain some revenge in the process.

When Los Angeles met Philadelphia in the NLCS last season, Philly had the home field advantage and the more potent lineup. This time around the Dodgers offense won’t be as reliant on slugging outfielder Manny Ramirez.

The West Coasters’ kiddies are all grown up. The development of Andre Either and Matt Kemp gives Los Angeles a batting order that’s dangerous top to bottom.

Expect the Dodgers to get to struggling Philly starter Cole Hamels early and the Phils to return the favor against 21-year-old lefty, Clayton Kershaw.

Pick: Over

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Series price: Dodgers -125

Pitching

Los Angeles’ starters don't get credited with too many victories, but they always keep their team in the game. Despite the fact no Dodgers hurler won more than 12 games during the regular season, L.A. led the majors with a 3.44 team ERA.

Randy Wolf, Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, Vicente Padilla and Jon Garland all sported ERAs under 4.00, while Chad Billingsley had an allowance of 4.02. Wolf, Kershaw and Padilla combined to limit the Cardinals to four runs over 17.1 innings in the NLDS.

Philadelphia's rotation has plenty of star power, led by lefties Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. Lee snapped out of a late-season slump by posting a 1.10 ERA in two starts against Colorado in the NLDS, but Hamels was knocked around in his only appearance. Rookie J.A. Happ was Philly's third starter against the Rockies and gave up three runs in three innings. Pedro Martinez might also make a start for the Phillies.

While the Dodgers have a slight edge in the starting rotation, they enjoy a huge advantage in the bullpen. Los Angeles was far and away the regular-season leader in bullpen ERA (3.18), while the Phillies were 13th (3.90). Late leads are a lot safer with L.A.'s Jonathan Broxton than Philly's Brad Lidge, though Lidge did record two saves in the NLDS.

Edge: Dodgers

Offense

Though the Dodgers had a higher team batting average than the Phillies during the regular season (.270 to .258), Philadelphia scored 34 more runs. The Phillies do most of their damage with the long ball. Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez all clubbed 30-plus homers, and Howard drove in 141 runs. Philly's offense carried the team in the NLDS, scoring 20 runs and collecting 40 hits in four games. Howard drove in six runs and Ibanez knocked home five.

The L.A. offense scored 13 runs and rapped out 29 hits in three games last round against some pretty good Cardinals pitching. Manny Ramirez, who struggled this season after returning from his 50-game suspension, had three doubles and two RBI in the series, while Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier each contributed six hits. The Dodgers need more from Russell Martin (1-for-9 last round) and Matt Kemp (2-for-14).

Edge: Phillies

Intangibles

Philadelphia easily defeated the Dodgers in last year's NLCS on the way to winning the World Series. Los Angeles got the better of the Phillies this season, winning four of seven matchups during the regular season.

The Dodgers, who are 52-31 at Chavez Ravine this season, have home-field advantage. That shouldn't faze the Phillies, though, considering they're 50-33 away from Citizens Bank Ballpark this year. Conspiracy theorists might believe Major League Baseball will do whatever it takes to get a Dodgers/Yankees matchup in the World Series.

Edge: Even

Pick: Dodgers in seven