SPORTS BETTING

• NLCS Game 5: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies 8:05 ET

  Posted on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT by North Shore Sports, INC

  
  

  NLCS betting continues on Wednesday night for what could be the close-out game of the series for the defending champions. Bookmaker Sportsbook customers will get another crack at an MLB gambling contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers (99-70, +$1,234) and the Philadelphia Phillies (99-71, +$808).
   
  On Monday night, the Phils took a 3-1 series lead in this best-of-seven NLCS betting series when SS Jimmy Rollins cranked a two-run double with two down in the bottom of the ninth to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 victory. Now, the NL East winners have the NL West winners on the ropes, needing three wins in the next four days to reach the Fall Classic.
   
  Manager Joe Torre had plenty of decisions to make about his pitching staff for the remainder of this series. Instead of going with the logical selection, LHP Clayton Kershaw, he has elected to turn the ball over to his hottest arm in RHP Vicente Padilla. In Game 2 of this series, Padilla was LA's starter in a fantastic pitcher's duel with Philadelphia's RHP Pedro Martinez. Though Pedro got the better of Padilla, it was the Dodgers who ultimately got the final laugh when the Philly bullpen blew Pedro's seven scoreless innings with a poor frame in the 8th. The former Texas Ranger threw 7.1 innings of nearly picture perfect baseball, as his only real mistake was conceding a solo homer in the 4th inning.
   
  Offensively, there hasn't been a whole heck of a lot to rave about for the Dodgers, as they really haven't gotten any consistent hitting from anyone. No one has more than two RBIs in this series, and of the regular starters, only 1B James Loney is batting over .300 through the first four games of this set. All of that will need to improve quickly for LA, or its season will come to an end Wednesday night.
   
  Meanwhile, the Phillies have blasted their way to a 3-1 series lead behind their MVP candidate, 1B Ryan Howard. Howard, who blasted 45 homers and drove in 145 runs in the regular season, has been on a thrilling tear through these playoffs. He has hit .379 with a .471 OBP, a .793 slugging percentage, two homers, and 14 RBIs in just eight playoff games. He has hit safely in all eight contests, and has also driven in at least one run in each of those games.
   
  That's made life a heck of a lot easier for a pitching staff which hasn't necessarily played up to its potential (save for LHP Cliff Lee) in these playoffs. One of those arms that has slacked so far in the second season has been LHP Cole Hamels, who will get a chance to redeem himself if he can pitch the Phils into the World Series on Wednesday. Hamels got the 'W' in Game 1 of this series, but after allowing four runs in 5.1 innings of work, no one was thrilled with his performance.
   
  The champs are -135 favorites to capture the NL pennant tonight, while the MLB betting 'total' chimes in at 8.5 over -110.
   
  No matter whether you prefer betting sides, 'totals', run-lines, or propositions, Bookmaker.com is your official headquarters for betting in the baseball playoffs! Login to your account today and get into the action!