MLB Tipping Sheet: Flying Phillies to keep good run going

Can Chase Utley and co beat NY?

The MLB season keeps on trucking so Federico Farcomeni previews another three matches ahead of tonight's action

New York Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies could miss the post-season for the first time in six years, but they have been on a hot streak of late. A win here would be their fifth in a row, and I have a sneaky suspicion that they might become a serious contender through October. The momentum is there - they have won seven out of their last nine, including a sweep of the Nationals who sit 16.5 games above them, over the weekend. As Cliff Lee put it: "Stranger things have happened. We've only recently started to play the way we should have. It's not a surprise to us." On the other side, the Mets have just beaten baseball's worst, Houston, and have possibly lowered their game before this important match-up.

San Francisco Giants @ Houston Astros

With all the attention concentrating on LA Dodgers, the Giants have responded well. The last week of the regular season, when they come face-to-face with their rivals, will be decisive. But for now the 2010 World Champions should just make the most of their six games series on the road against baseball's worst (Houston and Cubs). Matt Cain (13-5, 2.83 ERA) might have gone 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA in three starts at Minute Maid Park, but he's 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA in two outings against the Astros in 2012, including a perfect game in June in which he struck out a career-high 14 in a 10-0 win. Sweet memories and the gap in skill and motivation should provide the Giants with that extra boost they need to overshadow the Dodgers in the NL West. On the other side, the Astros seem incapable of scoring against such strong opposition, having touched the home plate just 34 times during a 2-11 stretch.

Cincinnati Reds @ Arizona Diamondbacks

It's Johnny Cueto (16-6, 2.47 ERA) versus Wade Miley (14-8, 2.80) at Chase Field. Two of the best pitchers in baseball go head-to-head in what is expected to be a dramatic encounter. The pitching statistics here are just too good to believe this game can provide the audience with more than 8.5 runs.

Recommended Bets
 Back Philadelphia @ 1.728/11
 Back San Francisco to overcome the 1.5 run handicap @ 1.794/5
 Back Under 8.5 runs @ 1.68/13 in Cincinnati at Arizona