Padres vs. Phillies MLB Pick – August 17th

The resurgence of Bryce Harper was on display again , as he smashed another important home run from the playground. With the Padres pulling inside 2 in what was a 5-0 game, Harper put the game out of touch with a 3-run shot into the seats.
The Padres tacked to a late run to make it an 8-4 game, though that was all for a comeback bid . It was a big win for the Phillies after crossing the Cubs in three games. There was some difficulty that the Phillies might have a hangover, but this was immediately put to sleep Friday night in Citizens Bank Park.
They seem determined to reach the postseason and have done themselves a few favors in that regard lately. The Brewers, Mets, and Cubs all lost, so that helps them out from the NL wildcard race. Catching the Braves looks next to impossible in a 7-game hole in the NL East.
However, keep playing like this and winning the Wild Card Game looks like a true chance. The run was spurred by a popular run by Bryce Harper in the plate. It wasn’t any secret that even the Phillies needed him to get going for the Phillies to really have a shot.
In addition to Harper moving the bat better, the Philadelphia bullpen is going to have to keep on producing down the stretch as well. There are a great deal of teams who are on pins and needles whenever they choose a slender lead at the 8th and 9th innings of matches. The Phillies lately obtained Jared Hughes off waivers to help their bullpen a little. With all of the injuries the relievers have suffered for the Phillies, they’ve been trying to add a new arm with Zach Eflin being inserted back into the starting rotation.
Eflin will find the nod tonight to get his first start since July 27th from the Braves. He was getting punished on the bump and has been demoted to the bullpen after that effort. Eflin was pitching well in the bullpen, but they want him to pitch well in the turning. The Padres will counter with sophomore Dinelson Lamet as their starting hurler Saturday night. Head under for our complimentary Padres vs. Phillies select.
Betting odds offered by bovada.lv
The Phillies were abandoned with a couple of options using Zach Eflin. Either deliver him down to the minors and find it off or out to the bullpen. They moved with option B plus it seemed to payoff. Even the Phillies’ bullpen needed thickness, therefore that it made sense to permit Eflin to throw from their bullpen. Back in 5.2 innings as a reliever, in his four latest appearances, Eflin was solid having allowed only 3 hits and 1-run during the stretch. This was after he had been getting drilled in a starting job.
Before getting demoted to the bullpen, Eflin was hit for a 11.37 ERA and 2.05 WHIP in three starts resulting in his stay in the pencil. He had enabled 19 earned runs in 15.2 innings of play before trying out as a reliever. I wouldn’t be surprised to observe that the Padres frustrating Eflin in his return to the starting rotation. Having said that, with the Phillies swinging a hot bat, Eflin is probably going to have lots of run service on Saturday.
The Phillies have scored 26 runs in their past three games. Bryce Harper combined for 10 RBI’s in these 3 games. Dating back to August 9th, Harper has 16 RBI’s since there. Lamet has played well in seven outings, as he enters with a 3.86 ERA in his second season as a major leaguer.
This resembles a tricky matchup against the red-hot Phillies, however. Philadelphia are destroying the ball and there haven’t been any indications that they are slowing down. The final score should enter the double digits, so the OVER looks like it’s well worth a look.

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