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PHILADELPHIA (100 - 71) at NY YANKEES (110 - 61) - 7:55 PM
CLIFF LEE (L) vs. C.C. SABATHIA (L)
Top Trends for this game.
PHILADELPHIA is 14-24 (-13.5 Units) against the money line in an inter-league game over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 110-61 (+16.9 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
NY YANKEES are 62-24 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in home games this season.
NY YANKEES are 37-14 (+18.8 Units) against the money line when playing on Wednesday over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 62-24 (+15.0 Units) against the money line in home games in games played on a grass field this season.
NY YANKEES are 74-37 (+22.8 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
NY YANKEES are 61-34 (+14.6 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
NY YANKEES are 38-18 (+13.9 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 100-71 (+5.7 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 51-34 (+12.9 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 48-31 (+12.2 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 72-52 (+15.8 Units) against the money line in road games in night games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 31-16 (+10.9 Units) against the money line against left-handed starters this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 18-5 (+13.5 Units) against the money line in playoff games over the last 2 seasons.
PHILADELPHIA is 32-21 (+8.3 Units) against the money line in road games after a win this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 50-37 (+5.4 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
PHILADELPHIA is 63-38 (+16.0 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.
LEE is 27-11 (+13.2 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 over the last 2 seasons. (Team's Record)
LEE is 60-41 (+21.1 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)

Head-to-Head Series History
PHILADELPHIA is 2-1 (+2.1 Units) against NY YANKEES this season
3 of 3 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL this season . (Under=+3.0 Units)

CLIFF LEE vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
LEE is 4-4 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 5.02 and a WHIP of 1.538.
His team's record is 4-5 (+0.9 units) in these starts. The OVER is 4-5. (-1.1 units)

C.C. SABATHIA vs. PHILADELPHIA since 1997
SABATHIA is 1-2 when starting against PHILADELPHIA with an ERA of 5.55 and a WHIP of 1.479.
His team's record is 1-3 (-3.3 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-1. (+1.9 units)

Philadelphia at NY Yankees, 7:55 ET
Cliff Lee (L) vs. CC Sabathia (L)

Lee:
PHI 14-24 vs. American League
PHI 20-9 Under after scoring 9+ runs

Sabathia:
16-6 Under at home off team win
NYY 69-25 as a favorite of -150 or more

7:55 PM
PHILADELPHIA vs. NY YANKEES
Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of NY Yankees's last 8 games when playing Philadelphia
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of NY Yankees's last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22 ERA)

Lee goes head-to-head with former Cleveland Indians teammate C.C. Sabathia in Game 1 of the World Series. The Phillies lefty has been invisible this postseason, going 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA in three playoff starts. His most recent effort was an eight-inning shutout of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which he struck out 10 batters – giving him 20 Ks in October.

Lee has faced the Yankees nine times in his career, posting a 4-4 record with an ERA over 5.00. He did, however, spoil the Yankees’ opening of their new Stadium back in April while still with the Indians. Lee went six innings and gave up one run, in a 10-2 Cleveland victory.

C.C. Sabathia (19-8, 3.37)

Sabathia has won all three of his playoff starts and boasts a slim 1.19 ERA with his most recent appearance lasting eight innings, in which he allowed one earned run and struck out five batters in a 10-1 New York win over the Los Angeles Angels.

The burly left-hander has meetings the Phillies four times in his career, posting a 1-2 record and a 7.36 ERA. His most start versus Philadelphia, Sabathia went eight innings and allowed three earned runs in a 4-3 loss which earned him a no-decision.

Hitting

This will be a battle of the big bats. The Phillies offense is rolling behind slugging first baseman Ryan Howard. He’s hitting .355 in the playoffs with two home runs and 12 RBIs. As a team, Philadelphia is batting .261 and is scoring an average of over six runs per playoff game.

The Yankees are hoping Alex Rodriguez continues to shun his October woes. A-Rod is batting a team-high .438 and has five home runs and 12 RBIs this postseason. New York is hitting a collective .262 and scoring more than five runs per game.

Weather

With an all-East Coast World Series, baseball bettors will have to keep a close eye on the chilly fall weather. Game 1 is expected to get a little wet with 70 percent chance of showers and game-time temperatures in the low 50s.

Pick: Under 7.5

What happens when two unstoppable forces collide? We're about to find out.

Both the Phillies and Yankees steamrolled their way into the World Series and tore the cover off the rawhide in the process. Each team is 7-2 in the postseason, with Philly scoring 55 runs and New York putting up 48.

We break down what should be a high-scoring Fall Classic.

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees

Series Price: Yankees -190

Pitching: Stud lefties headline each team's starting rotation. New York's CC Sabathia entered the playoffs with a career 2-3 record and a 7.92 earned run average, but he's gone 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts this year. Philly's Cliff Lee has shaken off a late-season slump to go 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA in three postseason appearances.

New York follows up Sabathia with hard-throwing A.J. Burnett and experienced southpaw Andy Pettitte. The Yankees rotation thins quickly after that. Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin possible candidate if manager Joe Girardi decides to use a fourth starter.

After Lee, the Phillies have Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez and Joe Blanton. Hamels was the NLCS and World Series MVP last year, but he's struggled this year and is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in the playoffs.

New York's bullpen has been excellent throughout the playoffs, leading all teams in ERA. The Phillies relievers - seen as the team's weakness entering the postseason - have also stepped up their game, particularly much-maligned closer Brad Lidge.

Edge: Yankees

Hitting: Both teams have relied heavily on the home run all year, and that hasn't changed in the playoffs. New York clubbed a franchise-record 244 bombs to lead the Majors during the regular season, while the Phillies tied the Rangers for the second-most jacks (224). Each team cranked 14 long balls in the first two rounds.

The teams' respective sluggers are white hot right now. New York's Alex Rodriguez is making fans forget his past playoff failures, batting .438 with five homers and 12 RBIs. Philly's Ryan Howard has dominated as well, pounding out seven extra-base hits and driving in 14 runs in nine games.

A-Rod's production has helped the Yankees overcome subpar postseasons from Mark Teixeira (.205, one HR), Robinson Cano and Johnny Damon.

On top of Howard's contributions, the Phillies have also received plenty of power from Jayson Werth (five homers, 10 RBIs). Shane Victorino (.346 average) and Carlos Ruiz (.361) have also chipped in, and underachieving Jimmy Rollins came up big with a two-out double to give the Phils a key walkoff win over the Dodgers in the NLCS.
Edge: Yankees

Intangibles: New York, owner of the best home record in baseball this season, has home-field advantage in the series. The Phillies don't mind playing on the road, however, posting the most road victories in the Majors this year.

Both clubs have shown an ability to overcome ninth-inning deficits. Joe Nathan and Brian Fuentes blew saves against New York in the past two rounds, while Philadelphia generated comebacks against Huston Street and Jonathan Broxton.

The Phillies are the defending World Series champions, playing loose and with loads of confidence. The Yankees are also full of confidence, but are burdened by the fact they haven't won the World Series since 2000 despite leading the Majors in payroll year after year.

Philly took two of three interleague games at Yankee Stadium in May.

Edge: Phillies

Series pick: Yankees in six games.

Philadelphia at NY Yankees
The Yankees open the World Series looking to build on their 10-1 record in C.C. Sabathia's last 11 home starts. New York is the pick (-160) according to Dunkel, which has the Yankees favored by 1/2 a run. Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160). Here are all of today's picks.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28

Game 951-952: Philadelphia at NY Yankees
Dunkel Ratings: Philadelphia (Lee) 16.779; NY Yankees (Sabathia) 17.316
Dunkel Line: NY Yankees by 1/2; 9 1/2
Vegas Line: NY Yankees (-160); 8
Dunkel Pick: NY Yankees (-160); Over