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Save Us Taijuan, You’re Our Last Hope to Avoid a Mets Sweep
By Joe Tansey
Published:
Taijuan Walker is the Phillies’ last hope to avoid a sweep at Citi Field.
The Phils are a +130 underdog at BetMGM against the Mets and Nolan McLean, who is making his third-career start on Wednesday night.
Look, I already know what you’re thinking.
The Phillies are doomed because they’re facing a pitcher for the first time inside their house of horrors. And to make matters worse, McLean’s only allowed six hits in 12.1 innings since he was called up. He’s also struck out 15 batters, and if Sean Manaea can strike out eight Phillies, McLean certainly can record a high punchout total.
The good news for Walker is that he’s in the middle of a run of solid starts. It felt like the bubble was about to burst on Friday when he had a tough first inning against the Nationals, but he held firm and only allowed three earned runs over five.
The Phils need a better start out of Walker to match whatever McLean throws at the lineup. We could be surprised by the Phils’ top hitters, but I think we’re all preparing to see five or six fantastic innings of work out of the Mets rookie because of how the week has gone in Queens.
I would still look into Walker’s outs recorded prop of Over/Under 15.5. He was one out away from hitting the over on the prop on Friday and entered that game with three straight outings of at least six innings.
Quite frankly, the Phils need a calming force on the mound, and as long as Walker doesn’t have a blow-up inning, he’ll be right on the line for the Over, so I’d take Over 15.5 outs recorded at +115 at bet365.
I think the Under 8.5 total runs is also in play on Wednesday night. It will potentially take one whole trip through the order for the Phils to figure out McLean’s stuff. This happens all the time when rookie pitchers face opponents for the first time.
With that in mind, I’d look to the First Five Innings Under 5. Walker is capable of keeping the Mets’ bats at bay to allow the Phils to chase the victory in the latter innings.
And if not, well, the Phillies don’t have to experience Citi Field for at least the rest of the regular season.
Kinkead: alternately, you can be an asshole and bet on the Phillies to get swept, then take your ill-gotten gains over to PA online casinos and NJ online casinos
Joe Tansey writes sports betting posts for Crossing Broad and also covers the Philadelphia Union for his Substack site, Union Soccer Blog.