Pitcher's Duel Expected Tonight Between Zack Wheeler and Clayton Kershaw
If you like a good pitcher’s duel, you’re going to want to tune in to tonight’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Zack Wheeler will take on Clayton Kershaw in a battle between two of the best pitchers in the National League.
Wheeler, who is being (rightfully) overshadowed in the National League by Jacob deGrom, is having a career season with an astounding 2.29 ERA and a 0.897 WHIP. The 31-year old has been especially hot as of late, as he’s pitched at least seven innings in five straight starts, including an eight inning scoreless performance against the Braves in his latest start on June 10th.
8 scoreless & 12 Ks from your NL strikeout leader, Zack Wheeler. ?? pic.twitter.com/NcWiFy2SCg
— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2021
Kershaw, who is having a down year by his standards, is still putting up a respectable 3.39 ERA and a 0.972 WHIP with the Dodgers. After back-to-back starts where he gave up five earned runs, the lefty bounced back in his latest start against the Texas Rangers by pitching six scoreless innings while striking out nine.
WynnBET has the Dodgers set as -142 home favorites, and this will be the 147-straight game that Los Angeles will be the betting favorite. Wheeler and the Phillies are set as +132 road underdogs, and the total for the game is set at 7 runs.
The Dodgers are betting favorites for the 147th straight game tonight.
— Iain MacMillan (@IainMacBets) June 16, 2021
There's a chance that streak will come to an end next week when they play the Padres in San Diego.
Something to keep an eye on.
WynnBET also had player props available for the game. Surprisingly, it has Wheeler’s earned run total set lower than Kershaw’s. Wheeler’s earned run total is set at 1.5, while Kershaw’s is set at 2.5.
Both pitchers have the same strikeout total, which is set at 7.5. I think the over for both pitchers is the bet to make.
Wheeler has hit double-digit strikeouts in four of his last five starts, and he hasn’t failed to surpass 7.5 Ks since his May 12th start against the Nationals.
Kershaw has surpassed 7.5 strikeouts in two straight starts, and he has an added advantage of facing Phillies bats who rank 25th in Major League Baseball in team strikeout rate at 25.9%.
If a game between two of the best pitchers in the Majors is something that excites you, tonight’s game will be must-watch television.