7:05 p.m. New York Mets (80-77) at Philadelphia Phillies (84-72) Best Line: NYM +162, PHILS -168 Alright, here comes our homerism of the day. This is also a valuable way to exorcise our our pent-up frustrations with this lifeless, hollowed-out, fraud of a team that keeps pathetically un-adjusted fans like us tuned-in the last two weeks of the season with the fruitless hopes of finally seeing a post-season in autumn.

Read More » Chopping Lines: When Accepting Heartbreak Is Better Than Refusing It

Two early afternoon games that look like possible underdog winners are the Houston Astros getting +125 versus the Pittsburgh Pirates(12:35 p.m.)–and our betting crush Zach Duke–and the Philadelphia Phillies getting +135 at Atlanta(1:05 p.m.) this afternoon. Houston starting pitcher Brandon Backe is scrubbish at times(even though he pitched 6.2 shutout innings during his last start), but we’re still agog over the Astros’ playoff push and how their bats seem to come alive when they need it most. And how about the Fightin’ Phils? Just when you think they’ll get shoved out of the wild card race they come up with inexplicable victories.

Read More » MLB Betting: Dog Day Afternoon

7:05 p.m. Houston Astros (73-64, R. Oswalt) at Philadelphia Phillies (73-65, J. Lieber) Best Line: PHL EVEN, HOU -110 Here we are with, what?, 25 games left to the season and Houston righty Roy Oswalt is trying on a new, shorter delivery that he hopes will help to better deceive hitters. Yeah, O.K. He’d be better off wearing an Andy Pettitte mask and borrowing Roger Clemens’ jersey. He ain’t fooling anyone, especially this late in the year. The secret on Oswalt became public in his last outing against the Reds when he pooped out and couldn’t start the 6th frame after tossing 100 pithches. And the secret everyone in Houston doesnt want you to know is this: Oswalt’s arm is, for the most part, dead. His "new" delivery is supposed to get him stronger and keep the other team guessing. With Philadelphia running out a very dependable-of-late Jon Lieber tonight - who’s won 4 of his last 6 - it’s time for the Phillies to snap their 3-game skid.

Read More » Chopping Lines: It’s a Jon Lieber Party and Everyone’s Invited

1:10 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies (71-62, J.Lieber) at 1:10 p.m. NY Mets (69-63, T. Glavine) Best Line: PHI +110, NYM -111 There’s no good reason to like the Phillies in this game. Why are we picking them then? Because of last night’s game. Last night the Phillies came in reeling, with momentum thoroughly on the side of the Mets and Pedro on the mound. Mets go up early with a 2-0 lead thanks once again to Ramon Castro’s inexplicable heroic power surge. But Phillies’ pitcher Brett Myers controls the rest of the game and Pedro starts letting up homer after homer. Phils win; message sent. Today, the pitching match-ups may slightly favor the Mets with Tom Glavine starting, but we’re guessing Jon Lieber gets some run support today even though he’s dropped his last two starts. But Lieber apparently is a southern boy and does have Hurricane Katrina on his mind.

Read More » Chopping Lines: Bouncing On Jon Lieber’s Stubby Legs

7:10 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies (70-61, R. Tejeda) at New York Mets (68-62, J. Seo) Best Line: PHI +128, NYM -129 The Mets, those sneaky bastards bordering New York’s other filthy river, are suddenly very alive and very exciting and - you know what? - very solid. Forget for a minute that they have the suddenly scary Jae Seo (6-1, 1.30) on the mound at home tonight. That ought to be enough for them to nip the Phillie’s rookie Robinson Tejeda. But commit to this: The most exciting baseball duo in New York this season may not be in pinstripes, but instead could very well be the Mets’ David Wright and Jose Reyes.

Read More » Chopping Lines: Reap What You Seo

10:05 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies (67-59, V. Padilla) at San Francisco Giants (55-69, B. Tomko) Best Line: PHILLIES -1 1/2 +115(Run Line), SAN FRAN +122 Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Vicente Padilla is a wacko. After a miserable, injury-plagued first half of the season where he almost lost his spot in the rotation, Padilla finally woke up after the All-Star break. Or checked out, rather. Padilla hasn’t spoken to anybody–the media, coaches, teammates–since then and in response he’s become the best Phillies pitcher and put them in an improbable wild card race.

Read More » Chopping(Run) Lines: The Two Faces of Vicente Padilla

Washington Nationals (63-57, R. Drese) at Philadelphia Phillies (64-56, C.Lidle) Best Line: PHI -160, Washington +158 You want brotherly love? How about South Philly and South Jersey fans buying some 9,000 walk-up tickets at their last home game with their beloved Phillies suddenly winning 6 of 7 games and surprisingly atop the National League Wild Card race. Chalk it up to Bobby Abreu finally heating up after his (needless) 41-home run performance at the All Star Game slightly put a small tear in his off-his-ass muscle. There’s no doubt Philly can smell the aroma of old backs breaking down out at the Houston Astro Ranch and are looking to make this a race to the end. The pitching mound gets heavier tonight with meaningless mounds Cory Lidle opposing the Nats’ Ryan Drese.

Read More » Chopping Lines: There’s a Thunder Cloud in Philly and It’s Name is Not Cory Lidle

5:05 pm Philadelphia Phillies (53-50, B. Myers) at Colorado Rockies (36-65, J. Acevedo) Best Line: Phillies -160 The Phillies managed to overcome a three game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros and win last night at Coors Field. The first of a four game series, the Phillies took the lead in the top of the ninth winning 8-5. The Phillies hope that they can continue to take advantage of the absence of Colorado Rockies slugger 1B Todd Helton and finally provide runs behind Brett Myers. Brett Myers (8-5, 3.24) has been consistent for the Phillies this year but has been a victim of poor run support. Over his last five games, Myers is 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA,

Read More » Chopping Lines: It’s Brett Myers Day in Colorado

8:05 p.m. Philadelphia Phillies (52-49, V. Padilla) at Houston Astros (53-47, R.Clemens) Best Line: Houston Astros -206 Fresh off Roy Oswalt’s a complete game 2-1 victory over the Phillys, the Houston Astros look to continue their Maid in the Shade dominance at home (32-14) and a chance to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies tonight. Bettors should take note that Philly has 1B Jim Thome on the 15-day DL with an injured elbow; the Astros have 1B Jeff Bagwell on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury. Roger Clemens (8-4, 1.40 ERA) and his league leading ERA will try to get the Astros within a game of first place in the Wild Card race on Wednesday night.

Read More » Chopping Lines: One Heaping Pile of Clemens Heat