Chopping Lines: One Heaping Pile of Clemens Heat

READ MORE: Chopping Lines, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies

8:05 p.m.

Philadelphia Phillies (52-49, V. Padilla)

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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. Against the Nationals on Friday, the 42-year-old right handed pitcher made ten batters whiff as he did not allow any runners to get past scoring position. His ten strikeouts matched his season high and it was his 110 game with at least ten strikeouts in one game.

Philadelphia hopes Vicente Padilla (5-8, 5.52 ERA) will help cure the Phillies’ road woes. Before his last outing against the San Diego Padres, the righty went 13 straight innings without allowing an earned run. In his last start, Padilla notched three earned runs and four hits in six innings of work. Bettors should note that twice this season when he has lost three straight games he won his fourth start. But trends aside, Padilla does not pitch well against the Astros. He is 0-3 with a 5.31 ERA in eight career appearances (three starts) against the Astros. Today’s game falls into what system players call the streak rule; when a team wins three games in a row bet the streak. Clemens on the mound against road poor Philadelphia is tonight’s play.

PICK! Houston Astros -206