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Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees 11-4-09

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees

- The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees will both be trying to pick up a win on Wednesday when they battle at Yankee Stadium in Game 6 of the World Series.

Righthander Pedro Martinez will take the mound for the Phillies to start this game. Martinez is 5-2 this season with a 3.28 ERA.

Meanwhile, it’ll be Andy Pettitte who starts for the Yankees. Lefthander Pettitte is 17-8 with a 4.06 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Yankees listed as 200-moneyline favorites versus the Phillies, while the game’s total is sitting at 9½.

Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with two homers and four runs batted in to lead the Phillies past the Yankees 8-6 in Game 5 of the series on Monday night.

Philadelphia cashed as -155 home favorites, while the teams played OVER the 8.5-run total posted by oddsmakers.

Raul Ibanez was 2-for-4 with a solo shot and two RBIs for the Phillies, as Cliff Lee allowed five runs over seven innings to get the win for Philadelphia.

Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for New York, while losing pitcher A.J. Burnett was rocked for six runs over two innings for the Yankees.

New York leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.

Team records:
Philadelphia: 93-69 SU
New York: 103-59 SU

Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing NY Yankees are 5-5
After playing NY Yankees are 2-8
After a win are 6-4

New York most recently:
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Philadelphia are 7-3
After playing Philadelphia are 8-2
After a loss are 7-3

A few trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 5 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Philadelphia’s last 8 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Philadelphia’s last 11 games on the road
Philadelphia is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees’s last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of NY Yankees’s last 5 games when playing at home against Philadelphia
NY Yankees are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home
NY Yankees are 11-4 SU in their last 15 games

Next up:
NY Yankees home to Philadelphia, Thursday, November 5

Yankees will win tonight and close out our Series Bet as well..

FREE PICK : Yankees -190

New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies 11-2-09

New York Yankees (10-3) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-5), 7:57 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York – A.J. Burnett (1-0, 3.55) Philadelphia – Cliff Lee (3-0, 0.54)

The New York Yankees target their 27th World Series title this evening, when they play Game 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

However, if the Yankees are going to win their first crown since 2000, they will have to do so against Phillies left-hander Cliff Lee, who delivered a brilliant performance in Game 1 of this series and has pitched to an amazing 0.54 earned run average in four postseason starts this year.

Acquired at the trade deadline from Cleveland, Lee has been magnificent for the Phillies in these playoffs. Last Wednesday, Lee went the distance and allowed six hits and an unearned run to beat the Yanks. He also struck out 10 without a walk for the second straight start.

Not starting Lee on short rest, though, may be the decision that comes back to haunt the Phillies, as the Yankees took a commanding 3-1 lead in this best- of- seven set with a thrilling win on Sunday.

After Philadelphia tied the game in the eighth inning on a Pedro Feliz home run, Alex Rodriguez delivered the go-ahead run-scoring double with two outs in the ninth inning as New York put the Phillies on the brink of elimination with a 7-4 victory.

Jorge Posada drove in three runs, including a two-run single to cap the top of the ninth.

Mariano Rivera set the side down in order in the bottom of the ninth for the save and broke the World Series record with his 23rd appearance, passing ex- Yankee Whitey Ford. It was his 39th career postseason save, and the latest one provided a near-knockout blow for the defending World Series champions.

“It feels good but, again, we’ve been down this road before, and we have to stay very focused,” said Rodriguez. “Those guys are the world champs. They’re going to come out fighting, and so are we, so just staying in the moment.”

Brad Lidge (0-1) retired the first two batters of the inning on a pop-up from pinch-hitter Hideki Matsui and a strikeout from Derek Jeter. On a nine-pitch at-bat, Johnny Damon then singled to left-center field.

The Phillies then put an infield shift toward the right side of the diamond with Mark Teixeira at the plate, but the move backfired. Damon stole second with third baseman Feliz taking the throw from catcher Carlos Ruiz. Nobody covered third, and Damon raced all the way to the base.

“I felt like being on third base, it possibly takes away a slider, a tough slider in the dirt that I may be able to score on,” said Damon. “Alex got two fastballs. It did work out for us.”

Teixeira was hit by a pitch before Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP going after his first World Series ring, clubbed an 0-1 offering to left field to give New York a 5-4 edge. Posada lined a single left-center for the three-run cushion and was thrown out trying to go to second.

“I have never had a bigger hit,” said Rodriguez. “But again, if you look at what Mark Teixeira and I have done in this World Series is not much, and it just tells you what a great balanced team we’ve had all year, and we’re getting contributions from all our guys.”

Rodriguez has 15 RBI this postseason, tying Bernie Williams (1996) and Scott Brosius (1998) for the most RBI by a Yankee in a single playoff year. Of those 15 RBI, seven have been game-tying or of the go-ahead variety.

“It is important to stay calm,” said Rodriguez. “For me making an adjustment after Game 1 and 2 was very easy because what I was doing was just being a little overanxious. One thing about postseason, if you want to hit, you’ve got to swing at strikes, and if you don’t swing at strikes, you’re going to expose your weakness. That’s all I’ve been trying to do.”

CC Sabathia, going on three days’ rest, pitched into the seventh inning for New York, but was lifted after Chase Utley homered off the southpaw for the third time in this series. The blast pulled the Phillies within 4-3.

Phillies starter Joe Blanton was taken out after six innings for a pinch- hitter. The righty gave up five hits and four runs, walked two and fanned seven.

The Phillies, aiming to become the first National League repeat winner since Cincinnati in 1975-76, have a big task to overcome. This is the ninth time that the Yankees have held a 3-1 lead in a World Series. They have gone on to win the world championship on each of the previous eight occasions. Also, the last team to overcome such a deficit to win the title was Kansas City in 1985.

Tonight the Yankees turn to righty A.J. Burnett, who will be going on short rest following a terrific effort in Game 2 of this series.

Burnett held the Phillies to a run and four hits in seven innings. He also fanned nine and walked a pair in picking up his first-ever postseason win.

“I’ve waited a long time for it, and I’m going to take it full stride,” said Burnett. “I’m going to go out there with everything I’ve got, and you take nothing for granted. I’ve seen some crazy things this postseason, and I guess that’s why they call it post-season baseball, because anything can happen.”

Burnett has made four starts on short rest in his career and is 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in those outings.

“Obviously, you do everything you can to help this team win,” Burnett said. “If that means me taking the ball on short rest, then I’m taking the ball on short rest.”

After being named the NLCS MVP, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has yet to find his groove in this series, going just 3-for-17 with 10 strikeouts. He is in a position to top the World Series record that Royals outfielder Willie Wilson set in 1980, when he struck out 12 times against the Phillies in 1980.

These teams have a limited history against one another, but did square off once in the World Series back in 1950, when the Yankees swept the series in four games from the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia.

The Phillies also took two of three from the Yanks earlier this season at Yankee Stadium. Philadelphia won the opener before New York rallied off of Lidge in the second contest. The Yankees got to Lidge again in the finale, but Philly managed to pick up an extra-inning win in that one to capture the series.

FREE PICK: PHILLIES -153

New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies 11-1-09

Sunday, November 1st (All times eastern)

New York Yankees (9-3) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-4), 8:20 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York – CC Sabathia (3-1, 1.52) Philadelphia – Joe Blanton (0-0, 4.66)

(Sports Network) – CC Sabathia starts on short rest this evening when the New York Yankees try to take a commanding lead in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 at Citizens Bank Park.

New York grabbed a 2-1 advantage in this best-of-seven set on Saturday, as Nick Swisher went 2-for-4 with one of the Yankees’ three homers in the 8-5 win.

The Yankees had scored just four runs in the first two games combined, having been shut down by Cliff Lee in a Game 1 loss before scraping out a win against Pedro Martinez in Game 2 thanks to a superb effort by A.J. Burnett.

However, New York overcame an early three-run deficit to take the win in Saturday’s contest, which was delayed more than an hour because of rain, thanks to its offense.

Nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-1 went on to take the title.

Hideki Matsui had a pinch-homer, while Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run shot that was only called a home run after video review. Johnny Damon also hit a big two-run double in the victory for New York, which is in search of its 27th World Series title.

“It was a big hit,” Rodriguez said. “I think it woke our offense up a little bit. It felt really good, and it was a little weird to have the first home run and the replay and the whole nine yards.”

Andy Pettitte (1-0), who recorded an RBI single, gave up three early runs, but pitched well enough to get the win, which extended his own record for career playoff victories to 17. Over six innings, the left-hander gave up four runs on five hits and three walks, with seven strikeouts.

“It was a battle tonight,” Pettitte said. “I wasn’t able to get ahead. I wasn’t able to get my breaking ball over. You know, fortunately enough, they had some lefties in the lineup that I was able to cut some balls, get them away from them in some big situations and able to get some outs when I needed to get some.”

His lefty counterpart, Cole Hamels (0-1) took the loss after lasting just 4 1/3 innings, in which he surrendered five runs on five hits and two walks. The start continued a disappointing season and postseason for Hamels, who last season captured MVP honors in the NLCS and World Series for the defending champion Phillies.

But after going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in the regular season, Hamels posted a 6.75 ERA in three postseason starts entering Saturday’s contest, which only continued his woes. Hamels has not pitched six full innings in any of his playoff starts in 2009.

“I think at times he gets a little upset with himself,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Hamels. “But as far as his mental toughness, this guy, he’s mentally tough. He’s definitely mentally tough. I mean, he’s just — tonight for three innings there he was real good, and that’s kind of been the pattern he’s pitched this year.”

Jayson Werth hit a pair of homers for the Phillies, giving him seven in this year’s playoffs, while Carlos Ruiz added a solo shot.

The Phillies, of course, are attempting to become the first repeat World Series champion from the National League since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

However, this is the fourth time the Phillies have trailed 2-1 in a World Series. On all three previous occasions, they went on to lose Game 4 – and the series.

Sabathia, meanwhile, will be pitching on three-days’ rest for the second time this postseason, having done so for Game 4 of the ALCS against the Angels. He was spectacular in that contest, giving up one run on five hits in eight innings in earning the win.

“I said it all postseason: I’ve had enough rest the past two months to be able to feel comfortable enough to go out there and pitch on three days’ rest,” Sabathia said. “I told Joe that at the beginning of the playoffs — ‘I’m here and available whenever you need me.’”

However, Sabathia started Game 2 in the NLDS a year ago for Milwaukee on short rest in Philadelphia and was hammered for five runs in just 3 2/3 innings. He threw 98 pitches — only 55 for strikes — and received the loss.

Sabathia also lost to the Phillies in Game 1 of this year’s World Series, although he gave up just two solo home runs to Chase Utley in seven innings.

“As far as short rest, it’s not necessarily something that you want to do a lot of during the course of a long season,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “But we’re not in a long season anymore.”

The Yankees’ prized offseason acquisition, though, has pitched well in the playoffs thus far in 2009, compiling a 3-1 record with a 1.52 earned run average in 29 2/3 innings pitched.

Rather than throw Cliff Lee on short rest, Manuel opted to throw righty Joe Blanton, who earned the win in Game 4 of the World Series last year against the Rays. Blanton pitched six innings and gave up two runs while adding a home run at the plate.

“(Lee) hasn’t pitched on three days’ rest, although I talked to him and he told me he had, or I thought he did,” Manuel said. “I also like him in Game 5 because we’ve got an off day Tuesday. If it goes seven games or something, that would be on his bullpen day, and he might be able to pitch.”

Blanton has made one postseason start this year, pitching to a no-decision in Game 4 against the Dodgers. The righty allowed four runs — three earned — in six innings, and the Phillies rallied in the ninth to win the game, 5-4, and take a commanding three games to one series lead.

The 28-year-old Blanton also made two relief appearances in the NLDS against Colorado, allowing two runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched. He went 2-0 in three starts in the 2008 postseason, when the Phillies won the World Series.

Blanton has struggled mightily against the Yankees, going 0-3 with an 8.18 ERA in four starts.

After being named the NLCS MVP Ryan Howard has yet to find his groove in this series, going just 2-for-13 with nine strikeouts. He is in a position to top the World Series record that Royals outfielder Willie Wilson set in 1980, when he struck out 12 times against the Phillies in 1980.

These teams have a limited history against one another, but did square off once in the World Series back in 1950 when the Yankees swept the series in four games from the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia.

The Phillies also took two of three from the Yanks earlier this season at Yankee Stadium. Philadelphia won the opener, before New York rallied off of Lidge in the second contest. The Yankees got to Lidge again in the finale, but Philly managed to pick up an extra inning win in that one to capture the series. Yankees are rolling now and go up 3-1 after tonight’s easy win….

FREE PICK : YANKEES -170

SERIES BET: YANKEES

New York Yankees at Philadelphia Phillies 10-31-09

Saturday, October 31st (All times eastern)

New York Yankees (8-3) at Philadelphia Phillies (8-3), 7:57 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York – Andy Pettitte (2-0, 2.37) Philadelphia – Cole Hamels (1-1, 6.75)

(Sports Network) – Cole Hamels tries to put a shaky postseason behind him this evening when the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees play a pivotal Game 3, as the World Series shifts to Citizens Bank Park.

Nine of the last 10 teams to win Game 3 when the World Series was tied 1-all went on to take the title.

Hamels was sensational last postseason, posting a perfect 4-0 mark with a 1.80 earned run average in five starts, while taking home MVP honors in both the NLCS and World Series.

However, it has been a different story this time around, as he has followed up a subpar regular season with an even more inconsistent postseason, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in three starts, none of which have seen him last past the sixth inning.

“Cole Hamels his pitched some good games this year,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said on Thursday. “The biggest part I would say is the consistency. When he’s on, he’s very capable of beating anybody. I’m hoping when he pitches that he’s on.”

The 25-year-old left-hander, who threw a total of 262 innings in 2008, was 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 starts during the regular season.

New York, meanwhile, will counter with the winningest pitcher in postseason history in left-hander Andy Pettitte. Pettitte pitched his team to the AL Pennant and picked up his 16th career playoff win in Game 6 of the ALCS on Sunday, as he held the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to a a run and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

“What can you say about him?” Derek Jeter said after that pennant-clinching victory. “He’s a guy you want to see on the mound in that situation. He’s pitched in every big game. He’s had a lot of success. You never see him fazed by anything. We have a lot of confidence in him.”

Pettitte has been tremendous this postseason, going 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA, while pitching into the seventh inning in each of his three outings.

As good of a postseason pitcher Pettitte has been, though, he has struggled at times in the World Series, as he is just 3-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 11 starts. This will be his first start in the Fall Classic since pitching for Houston in Game 2 against the Chicago White Sox in 2005.

“This is what we play for,” Pettitte said. “This is what we set out for in Spring Training. Obviously, to be able to get there and to accomplish that, it’s awesome. I just feel very fortunate and very blessed to be on this team.”

New York evened this best-of-seven set at a game apiece on Thursday, as A.J. Burnett outdueled Pedro Martinez while Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui each homered, helping the Yankees to a 3-1 victory.

Philadelphia used a superlative effort from Cliff Lee to take Wednesday’s opener, 6-1, at Yankee Stadium.

Burnett (1-0) countered with a gem of his own in his first career start in the Fall Classic, surrendering just one run on four hits and two walks in seven frames. The hard-throwing righty also struck out nine against the team that roughed him up for five runs in a six-inning start back in May.

“After last night I wanted to come out and set the tone early, be very aggressive,” Burnett said following the game. “I went out tonight with confidence and the game just rolled by.”

Jorge Posada added a pinch-hit RBI for the Yankees, and Mariano Rivera closed it out with a six-out save, highlighted by an inning-ending double-play ball off the bat of Chase Utley in the eighth.

Martinez (0-1), the longtime Yankees rival and lightning rod for media attention, turned in a quality outing for Philadelphia, ending with a line of three runs on six hits and two walks with eight punchouts in six-plus innings.

“He wasn’t afraid to throw inside to hitters. He got hurt by the longball by their left-handed hitters,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Martinez. “It was a close game and we couldn’t pull it out.”

Matt Stairs knocked in the lone run for defending champion Phillies, whose 1- through-4 hitters went 1-for-13 with three walks and six strikeouts, four coming from Ryan Howard.

With an intentional walk in the third, Utley extended his postseason record by reaching base for the 27th consecutive game for the Phillies, who are attempting to become the first repeat World Series champion from the National League since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

Entering this series there were no two hotter hitters at the plate than Alex Rodriguez and Howard, the NLCS MVP. However, the two sluggers have combined to strike out 12 times through the first two games.

Both players are in position to top the World Series record that Royals outfielder Willie Wilson set in 1980, when he struck out 12 times against the Phillies in 1980.

Things don’t figure to get any better for the two on Saturday, as Rodriguez is 0-for-4 lifetime against Hamels, while Howard has just one hit in 11 at- bats against Pettitte.

Now the series moves to Philadelphia, where the Phillies are 11-1 over the last two postseasons.

These teams have a limited history against one another, but did square off once in the World Series back in 1950 when the Yankees swept the series in four games from the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia.

The Phillies also took two of three from the Yanks earlier this season at Yankee Stadium. Philadelphia won the opener, before New York rallied off of Lidge in the second contest. The Yankees got to Lidge again in the finale, but Philly managed to pick up an extra inning win in that one to capture the series but the Yankees will not lose this game!! Yankees will win. Yankees will win!!
FREE PICK: YANKEES -117

SERIES BET: YANKEES -170

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees 10-29-09

Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees

– The Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees will both be trying to pick up a win on Thursday when they battle at Yankee Stadium in Game 2 of the World Series.

The Phillies will give the ball to starter Pedro Martinez in this one. Righthander Martinez is 5-1 this season with a 3.14 ERA.

Meanwhile, it’ll be A.J. Burnett who starts for the Yankees. Righthander Burnett is 13-9 with a 4.07 ERA so far this season.

Oddsmakers currently have the Yankees listed as 196-moneyline favorites versus the Phillies, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

Cliff Lee fanned 10 batters and went the distance on Wednesday as the Phillies defeated the Yankees 6-1 in Game 1. The Phillies won that game as +160 underdogs, while the seven runs went UNDER the posted over/under (7.5).

Chase Utley launched two home runs to lead the Phillies, and Raul Ibanez also drove in a pair of runs in the win.

Derek Jeter went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Yankees, who were -180 favorites in the contest. CC Sabathia gave up four hits and two runs over seven innings in the loss.

Team records:
Philadelphia: 93-69 SU
New York: 103-59 SU

Philadelphia most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 4-6
Before playing NY Yankees are 6-4
After playing NY Yankees are 1-9
After a win are 7-3

New York most recently:
When playing on Thursday are 7-3
Before playing Philadelphia are 6-4
After playing Philadelphia are 9-1
After a loss are 7-3

A few trends to consider:
Philadelphia is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
Philadelphia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Philadelphia is 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees
NY Yankees are 11-2 SU in their last 13 games at home
NY Yankees are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games
NY Yankees are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Philadelphia

Next up:
NY Yankees at Philadelphia, Saturday, October 31

With all that being said the Yankees will not loss tonight. Huge Play on the Yankees

FREE PICK : YANKEES -200

Philadelphia Phillies at New York Yankees 10-28-09

Philadelphia Phillies (7-2) at New York Yankees (7-2), 7:57 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia – Cliff Lee (2-0, 0.74) New York – CC Sabathia (3-0, 1.19)

Former teammates and the last two American League Cy Young Award winners square off this evening when the 105th edition of the World Series gets underway, as CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees welcome Cliff Lee and the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies to Yankee Stadium.

“We’re close,” Sabathia said about his relationship with Lee. “We have always been. We came up together. We opened up the new stadium this year against each other [a 10-2 win for the Indians and Lee], and that was pretty cool. It’s just weird, because a couple of years ago, we were talking about pitching in a World Series together. Now, we’re in different clubhouses.”

Teammates with the Cleveland Indians just 16 months ago, Sabathia was the AL Cy Young Award winner in 2007 before Lee took home the honors a year ago.

“It’s bittersweet,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said earlier in the week. “You don’t work in this game without building a personal attachment to guys. So I look out there and see those two guys, and, as people, I’m excited for them. I’m excited for them to show their talent on that stage, I’m excited for them to get that type of exposure.

“And yet I’m bitter that they’re not doing it in the Indians uniform.”

Tonight’s matchup will mark just the sixth time in history that former Cy Young winners have squared off and the first time since Game 4 of the 1999 World Series when Roger Clemens and John Smoltz faced off.

“CC loves to pitch and he’s very competitive, and Lee has the same kind of makeup, too,” Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel said. “So it has a chance of being a good game.”

On the heels of just its second World Series title in franchise history, Philadelphia will try to become the first repeat champion from the Senior Circuit since the Cincinnati Reds’ Big Red Machine teams in 1975-76.

Unlike last year, though, when they ran roughshod over a Tampa Bay Rays team that was in the midst of their first-ever postseason run, the Phillies will be facing a franchise that is synonymous with baseball in October in the New York Yankees, who will be appearing in their 40th Fall Classic, as they shoot for an unprecedented 27th World Series title.

“I think there’s definitely a special mystique when you walk into Yankee Stadium, new or old,” Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth said. “It’s the cathedral of baseball. It’s where everybody wanted to play as a kid. It’s Yankee Stadium. As far as that goes, there might be something to that. A little bit of motivation, something like that. But all in all, it doesn’t matter who we play or where we play. I think everybody knows that we’ve got a job to do and we know how to do it.”

One year after New York had its 13-year string of reaching the postseason stopped, the Yankees did what everyone expected them to do – spend money. And spend they did, as they paid a combined $423.5 million last winter for the services of three players: starting pitchers Sabathia (7-years, $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (5-years, $82.5 million) and first baseman Mark Teixeira (8-years, $180 million).

The moves paid off, as the Yanks returned to the postseason after winning the AL East for the 10th time in the last 12 years with a major league best 103 wins.

There is no secret as to why New York is in the position that it is and that is its incredible lineup.

The Yankees finished the season with the most home runs in the American League, a franchise record 244, the most runs scored (915), most RBI (881), top slugging percentage (.478), top on-base percentage (.362) and tied with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the most hits in the league with 1,604.

New York had seven players top 20 home runs with Derek Jeter coming close to that mark with 18.

New York had its way with the Minnesota Twins, sweeping them in the ALDS before gutting out a six-game victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALCS to return to the World Series for the first time since 2003 when it fell in six games to the Florida Marlins.

Alex Rodriguez has been the driving force behind the Yankees impressive run, as he has put any lingering questions about his ability to perform in the clutch behind him with a terrific postseason.

Through nine games Rodriguez has hit .438 with five home runs and 12 RBI, while coming up with big hit after big hit for the Yankees.

While Rodriguez has seemingly exorcised his postseason demons, Derek Jeter, as he has done his whole career, continued to thrive in October. Jeter has scored nine runs in the postseason, while hitting .297.

If the Yanks are going to get past the gritty Phillies they are going to need more from Robinson Cano, Teixeira and Nick Swisher, all of whom have struggled this postseason.

While Rodriguez has taken care of business at the plate, Sabathia has been the anchor on the mound, going 3-0 with a 1.19 earned run average in his three starts. Sabathia was 2-0 and allowed just two runs in 16 innings in the ALCS win over the Angels to win MVP honors.

Sabathia has struggled in his career against the Phillies, going 1-2 with a 5.55 ERA in four career starts against them, including a playoff loss with the Milwaukee Brewers last year.

Of course, though, it all ends with Mariano Rivera, who is not only the best closer to ever appear in the postseason, but quite possibly the best pitcher – period – to throw in the playoffs.

Rivera has been dominant again in this postseason, saving three games, while pitching to a 0.84 ERA.

While the Yankees are the last team to capture consecutive World Series with three straight wins from 1998-2000, Philadelphia will be playing in consecutive Fall Classics for the first time in team history.

If the Yankees have the best lineup in baseball, the Phillies are a close second. There was not a better lineup in the National League than that of the Phillies, who finished the regular season leading the league in runs (820), doubles (312), home runs (224), total bases (2,493), RBI (788) and slugging percentage (.447).

The Phillies had five players go over 20 home runs, with four of them topping the 30 barrier.

After capturing their third straight NL East crown, the Phillies started their title defense with a four-game victory over the Colorado Rockies in the NLDS, before disposing of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second straight year in five games of the NLCS.

Led by the mid-season acquisition of Lee and the heroics of slugger Ryan Howard the Phillies find themselves back in the Fall Classic for the sixth time in team history.

Lee has been everything the team envisioned he would be when they acquired him near the trade deadline, as he went 2-0 in his three postseason starts, while surrendering just two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings.

Like Sabathia, Lee has struggled against his opponent tonight, as he is just 4-4 with a 5.02 ERA in nine starts against the Yankees. However, he beat Sabathia in the first-ever game at the new Yankee Stadium, before falling to the Yanks on May 29.

As good as Rodriguez has been this postseason, Howard has been every bit his equal, driving in 14 runs, while hitting a robust .355. His eight RBI in the LCS helped him pick up MVP honors.

Werth, one of the unheralded Phillies stars with 36 home runs, had struggled in the postseason, but belted two homers in Philadelphia’s Game 5 clincher over the Dodgers and is hitting .281 in the playoffs.

Closer Brad Lidge has also regained his form in the postseason. After blowing a league-high 11 saves during the season, including two to the Yankees, he has saved all three of his opportunities and has yet to allow a run in five games this postseason.

These teams have a limited history against one another, but did square off once in the World Series back in 1950 when the Yankees swept the series in four games from the Whiz Kids of Philadelphia.

The Phillies also took two of three from the Yanks earlier this season at Yankee Stadium. Philadelphia won the opener, before New York rallied off of Lidge in the second contest. The Yankees got to Lidge again in the finale, but Philly managed to pick up an extra inning win in that one to capture the series.

We Love the pitching match up tonight and we love the UNDER.

FREE PICK GAME 1 : UNDER  7.5

SERIES PICK: YANKS -200

LA Angels of Anaheim at New York Yankees 10-24-09

LA Angels of Anaheim (5-3) at New York Yankees (6-2), 8:07 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: LA Angels – Joe Saunders (0-0, 2.57) New York – Andy Pettitte (1-0, 2.84)

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim try to force a seventh game in the American League Championship Series this evening when they once again try to stave off elimination against the New York Yankees, as the best- of-seven set shifts back to Yankee Stadium for Game 6.

However, a near 100-percent chance of rain is in the forecast for Saturday in the Bronx. The weather report, though, was ominous last weekend, but both games were able to be played.

Los Angeles stayed alive with a thrilling win on Thursday, as Kendry Morales’ RBI single capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning, carrying the Angels to a 7-6 victory.

The win, though, didn’t come without some trepidation, as southpaw closer Brian Fuentes intentionally walked Alex Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth then walked Hideki Matsui and hit Robinson Cano to load the bases. However, Nick Swisher, 3-for-28 with just one RBI and 10 strikeouts in the postseason coming into the at-bat, popped up to short on 3-2 pitch to end the game.

Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero and Morales all went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for the Angels, who held a 4-0 lead going to the seventh, but then gave up six runs before rallying again.

“We are just going out there to play every game, one game at a time,” said Hunter. “The pressure is not on us. We are still going to go out and grind.”

Mark Teixeira had two hits, including a bases-loaded-clearing double in the big seventh for New York, which is trying to reach the World Series for an unprecedented 40th time in franchise history.

Since the ALCS became a best-of-seven series in 1985, seven teams have taken a 3-2 edge into Game 6 with the home-field advantage. Three of those teams won Game 6 to advance to the World Series, two lost Game 6 but then won Game 7, and two teams lost both Games 6 and 7 at home.

“Well, I feel good about our team,” said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. “We’re up three games to two. We’re in our home ballpark, where we’ve played very well. I’m sure the Angels feel very good about their chances, you know, after the last game, but you win 103 games during the regular season and have a great home-field record, you’re going to feel great when you come home.”

Of course, the Yankees were in a similar position in 2004 and lost both games at home to the Boston Red Sox, who became the first team in major league history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.

Melky Cabrera added two hits in Thursday’s loss and Robinson Cano had two RBI in the loss for New York, whose normally reliable bullpen imploded in the seventh.

After the Yankees had seemingly seized control of the contest in top half of the seventh, the Angels scored three times in their turn to re-claim control. Jeff Mathis laced his third hit of the night and Erick Aybar walked to set the table for Chone Figgins, who moved both runners up one base on a sacrifice bunt off Damaso Marte.

Bobby Abreu’s slow chopper to first plated one run, ending Marte’s night in favor of Phil Hughes (0-1). The right-hander then walked Hunter and allowed Guerrero’s single to center to score the tying run.

“He is still making pitches. He got to the counts that he wanted to, but he got to Vlad Guerrero and missed his spot,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said about Hughes.

Morales followed with a hot shot to right, plating Hunter for a 7-6 game.

Los Angeles’ rally took some heat off Angels’ skipper Mike Scioscia, who had lifted starter John Lackey with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. Darren Oliver came on and proceeded to give up the double to Teixeira, setting the stage for the six-run inning.

“I just with my heart said leave John in. My head said let’s turn Tex around. I thought turning him around at that time was the move. Obviously, it didn’t work out,” stated Scioscia.

If tonight’s game is indeed washed out, Scioscia has stated that he could go back to Lackey on short rest if the contest is played on Sunday.

Tonight, though, Scioscia will hand the ball to left-hander Joe Saunders, who won 16 games during the regular season. Saunders did not get a decision in Game 2 of this series last Saturday, as he allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings.

“We’re going to be ready to play,” said Saunders. “It’s going to be the usual Yankee hostile environment. It’s going to be a lot of fun. They’re going to be all over us. It’s going to be a good battle.”

Meanwhile, New York, which hasn’t been back to the World Series since falling in six games to the Florida Marlins in 2003, will turn to left-hander Andy Pettitte, who can become the winningest pitcher in postseason history with a victory tonight.

“I know I’ve made so many starts in the postseason and been in this situation so many times,” Pettitte said. “I’ve been there and done that. All that experience or whatever is not going to help me when I go out in the first inning and help my pitches be where they need to be. Hopefully, it’s just there.”

Pettitte, who is tied with John Smoltz for the most postseason wins, was denied his 16th playoff victory on Monday against the Angels, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, but did not get a decision in his team’s 5-4 loss in Game 3.

Also, with a victory tonight Pettitte can become the first pitcher to win five playoff clinchers.

“I think Andy’s here for a reason [in Game 6],” Jorge Posada said. “He loves playing in the postseason and you know Andy’s been so good for us throughout the years, a big-game pitcher, and I know he’s going to be ready for the game tomorrow.”

Should they win, the Yanks will start the World Series next Wednesday at Yankee Stadium against the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies, who claimed a second straight NL Pennant on Wednesday when they knocked off the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Angels have beaten the Yankees in both of their postseason meetings. Los Angeles got the best of New York in 2002 on its way to a World Series championship, then beat the Yankees again in five games in the 2005 ALDS.

In fact, since 1995, the Angels have been the only AL team to give the Yankees a losing record (68-80, .459) in the regular season.

FREE PICK : YANKEES -170

New York Yankees at LA Angels of Anaheim 10-20-09

Tuesday, October 20th (All times eastern)

New York Yankees (5-1) at LA Angels of Anaheim (4-2), 7:57 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: New York – CC Sabathia (2-0, 1.23) LA Angels – Scott Kazmir (0-0, 7.50)

CC Sabathia takes the hill on three days’ rest this evening, when the New York Yankees try to get back on track in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

Since the inception of the Wild Card in 1995, starting pitchers have worked on short rest — three days or less — 85 times in the postseason and are a combined 20-34 with a 4.65 earned run average.

Sabathia pitched on three days rest in last year’s NLDS for Milwaukee, but was rocked by Philadelphia for five runs in just 3 2/3 innings. That outing, though, followed up three September starts he made on short rest that saw him go 2-1 with an 0.83 ERA.

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal going [on] three days’ rest,” Sabathia said. “Everybody made such a big deal of it last year. But if you’re healthy enough during the year, I think anybody is able to do it.”

Entering this season Sabathia had pitched to a 7.92 ERA in the playoffs, but he has been tremendous for the Yankees this year, going 2-0 while allowing just two runs in 14 2/3 innings (1.23 ERA).

“The thing about CC is he didn’t have the amount of innings that he had the last two years in the regular season,” manager Joe Girardi said. “We slowed him down. He’s been able to have extra rest, and that’s why we feel good about it. We wouldn’t ask him to do something that we didn’t think he was capable of or that he had [no] chance to be successful at.”

The big lefty, who hasn’t lost since July 28, was brilliant against the Angels in Game 1 of this series on Friday, as he surrendered a run and four hits in eight innings. He also struck out seven and walked a batter.

However, Sabathia lost both of his regular-season starts to the Angels and is 5-7 lifetime against them with a 4.72 ERA in 14 games.

New York is going to need a big start from Sabathia tonight after relying heavily on its bullpen the last two games. After winning a 13-inning contest on Saturday, the Yankees blew an early three-run lead and found themselves on the wrong end of a 5-4, 11-inning decision on Monday.

Jeff Mathis’ line drive in the gap in left-center scored Howie Kendrick with the game-winning run as the Angels cut New York’s series lead to 2-1 in this best-of-seven set. Kendrick finished 3-for-5 with a solo homer and a triple.

“Obviously it’s the biggest hit of my life,” Mathis said. “I mean, to come through and for Howie to have the at-bat he did right there and get on base and put one in the gap and score to win the game, it’s a pretty good feeling.”

The Yankees, who lost for the first time this postseason, had been 30-0 in ALCS games when leading by three-plus runs.

After Ervin Santana (1-1) hurled a perfect top of the 11th, New York’s David Robertson recorded two quick outs in the bottom half before Yankees manager Joe Girardi opted for reliever Alfredo Aceves (0-1).

“It’s just different kind of stuff against those hitters,” Girardi said in his brief postgame explanation. “And we have all the matchups and all the scouting reports and we felt that, you know, it was a better matchup for us.”

Kendrick greeted Aceves with a seeing-eye single up the middle and Mathis followed by driving a high fastball to left-center that was just out of the reach of Jerry Hairston Jr., with Kendrick coming in to score without a play at the plate to end the four-hour, 21-minute affair.

The Yankees scored all of their runs off solo blasts by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada. Melky Cabrera and Nick Swisher, though, combined to go 0-for-9 and left 12 men on base.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, continued his amazing postseason, as he is hitting .348 with four home runs and nine RBI in this year’s playoffs . He has also drove in a run in seven straight postseason games, one shy of the Major League record held by Ryan Howard, who is in the midst of the streak now, and Lou Gehrig.

Hoping to slow Rodriguez down tonight will be left-hander Scott Kazmir, who will try for a better effort tonight than his ALDS outing. Kazmir did not get a decision in the Game 3 win over Boston, but allowed five runs and five hits in six innings.

“I’m going to have to be very good facing Sabathia, because he’s not going to give up much,” Kazmir said. “You have to match him every inning. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing.”

Despite winning just two of his six regular-season starts with the Angels, Kazmir pitched to a 1.73 ERA after being acquired from Tampa Bay in late August.

One of his two losses with the Angels, though, came at the hands of the Yankees, who beat him on September 23. He is 6-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) against them.

“I’m excited,” Kazmir said. “Very excited. I’m up for the challenge. I don’t put any extra pressure on myself. I just go out there and pitch my game. With this team, the Yankees, they’re a very high-powered offense, so you just have to attack the strike zone. I’m not going to try to do anything extra, just pitch my game.”

The Angels have beaten the Yankees in both of their postseason meetings. Los Angeles got the best of New York in 2002 on its way to a World Series championship, then beat the Yankees again in five games in the 2005 ALDS.

In fact, since 1995, the Angels have been the only AL team to give the Yankees a losing record (68-80, .459).

The Angels split their 10 games with the Yankees in the regular season, but New York won three of the last four meetings. New York, though, won only two of its six games in Anaheim this season and has won there in just three of its last 12 visits.

FREE PICK : YANKEES -125

Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees 10-17-09

Los Angeles Angels vs. New York Yankees - The Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees will both be trying to pick up a win on Saturday when they battle at Yankee Stadium in Game 2 of the ALCS. The Angels will give the ball to starter Joe Saunders in this one. Lefthander Saunders is 16-7 this season with a 4.60 ERA. Saunders’ opponent in this one will be AJ Burnett. The Yankees righthander has a 3.97 ERA to go along with a 13-9 record this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Yankees listed as 190-moneyline favorites versus the Angels, while the game’s total is sitting at 8½.   The Yankees pounded out 10 hits en route to a 4-1 victory over the Angels in Game 1 of the series on Friday. The Yankees won the game as -180 favorites, while the five goals went UNDER the posted over/under (8.5). Hideki Matsui went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI in leading the Yankees. CC Sabathia tossed eight innings for the win. Kendry Morales drove in the lone run for the Angels, who were +160 underdogs. John Lackey gave up nine hits and four runs over 5 2-3 innings in that loss.   Team records: Los Angeles: 97-65 SU New York: 103-59 SU Los Angeles most recently: When playing on Saturday are 4-6 Before playing NY Yankees are 6-4 After playing NY Yankees are 5-5 After a loss are 5-5 New York most recently: When playing on Saturday are 6-4 Before playing LA Angels are 6-4 After playing LA Angels are 5-5 After a win are 9-1 A few trends to consider: LA Angels are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games LA Angels are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road LA Angels are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing NY Yankees LA Angels are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees NY Yankees are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games NY Yankees are 9-1 SU in their last 10 games at home NY Yankees are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against LA Angels NY Yankees are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Angels Next up: NY Yankees at LA Angels, Monday, October 19 FREE PICK: YANKEES -177

Philadelphia Phillies at Los Angeles Dodgers 10-15-09

Philadelphia Phillies (3-1) at Los Angeles Dodgers (3-0), 8:07 p.m.

Probable Starting Pitchers: Philadelphia – Cole Hamels (0-1, 7.20) Los Angeles – Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 2.70)

(Sports Network) – For the second straight year, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers will battle for the right to represent the National League at the World Series when the best-of-seven NLCS gets underway this evening at Dodger Stadium.

This is the first NLCS rematch since Houston and St. Louis met in 2004 and ‘05, and only the third repeat series since Atlanta and Pittsburgh squared off in 1991 and ‘92.

Philadelphia, of course, needed five games to get past the Dodgers a year ago en route to its first World Series title since 1980. This will actually be the fifth time these teams are meeting in the postseason. The Phils beat LA in 1983 to advance to the World Series, while the Dodgers defeated them the first two times they met (1977-78).

The Phillies, who have won the NLCS in each of their last four appearances, followed up their second-ever championship with their third consecutive NL East title, going 93-69 in the regular season.

Philadelphia, which is in this round for the eighth time in team history, started its title defense by beating the Colorado Rockies in four games. After splitting the first two games of the set in Philadelphia, the Phillies won the last two in Colorado, winning Game 4 in dramatic fashion, as they overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth to pull out a 5-4 win.

“We knew going into the ninth inning we had the right guys coming up at the top of the order and we had gotten to Street the night before. We knew we had a shot to make some things happen,” stated Ryan Howard, who tied the game with a two-run double.

Brad Lidge nailed down the save in that win and was 2-for-2 in save opportunities after blowing 11 of them during the regular season.

Heading to the hill tonight for Philadelphia will be new father Cole Hamels, who has dominated the Dodgers over the course of his career. Hamels, though, was charged with the loss in Game 2 of the NLDS, but you can’t blame him if he may have had other things on his mind, as his wife went into labor during the contest.

Hamels, who was 10-11 in the regular season with a 4.32 ERA, wasn’t informed until after he was taken out following the fifth inning, but he surrendered four runs and seven hits. He has now lost his last three starts.

“Best cop ride I had ever been a part of when I wasn’t in the back,” Hamels said. “Just being able to be there with my wife and my family and then to go through that process of the labor and then all of a sudden the birth — it was definitely an emotional day.”

The start was a sharp contrast to his performance in last year’s postseason, when he nabbed both NLCS and World Series MVP awards. Hamels, who shut out the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 4, went 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts against them in last year’s NLCS.

Hamels, who hasn’t won on the road since July 28 in Arizona, has been brilliant at Dodger Stadium, going 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three starts including the postseason.

“It’s just a nice field to play at,” Hamels said. “I’m fortunate enough to be able to pitch here for Game 1.”

Los Angeles, meanwhile, is back in the NLCS for the ninth time in team history after an impressive three-game sweep of the NL Central champion St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.

“We put all these games in the season, 162 behind us, we put these three behind us, and we’re that much closer to achieving that goal (of winning the World Series),” Andre Ethier said. “This series behind us, this win, this clinch, just closer to our goal, which we stated day one of spring training, which was win the World Series.”

Ethier was the offensive catalyst in the Dodgers’ win over the Cards, hitting .500 (6-for-12) with two home runs and three RBI. Ethier, though, hit just .194 against left-handers this season.

Los Angeles led the NL West for most of the season, but did not clinch a division title until the final weekend of the season, despite finishing with an NL-best 95 wins.

The Dodgers will hand the ball tonight to 21-year-old left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who was terrific for them in his NLDS start, as he held the Cardinals to two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

But he did not factor in the decision, and regardless of how well he has pitched of late, he is still winless in his last 12 starts.

However, he has given up more than three runs just once since May 12.

Kershaw, who pitched two games in relief in last year’s NLCS, is also 0-3 lifetime against the Phillies with a 6.64 ERA in four starts.

“I think I got to experience it last year out of the bullpen,” said Kershaw. It’s not obviously the same starting Game 1 of a series or anything like that, but just to have the experience to get out there and pitch against them a little bit, you know, is definitely going to help me out tomorrow.”

Los Angeles won the season series with the Phils, 4-3, as it took two of three at Citizens Bank Park and split the four games at Chavez Ravine.

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