MLB Picks: Phillies vs. Astros

We were right about one thing, that being the best chance for a win by the Houston Astros in this series was Game 1 on Thursday. However, we were dead wrong about the two young hurlers in the contest after the Bayou City boys came away with a 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies to trump our wagers on the UNDER 8.

Back to the drawing board, as they say, when the two teams collide at Minute Maid Park on Friday. It's a lopsided game on the MLB odds board that shows Cole Hamels and the Phils to be big chalk at -190 for a morning consensus. Bud Norris was originally in line for the Astros but was scratched because of a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. Edgar Gonzalez will step in forHouston, and the match is carrying a 7 run total with the OVER priced at -120.

Thursday's defeat was a blow to the Phillies who fell back to a level 72-72 on the season and are now sixth in the chase for one of two National League wild card slots. The good news isPhiladelphia isn't facing the cream of the crop in the Senior Circuit the rest of this weekend, and even better news is having Hamels on the mound to quickly get the game back.

Hamels has helped the Phils to victory lane in five of his last six starts, and nine of 14 this year on the road where he sports a 3.19 ERA. This is his first try of 2012 against the Astros, and they're a club who has given him a hard time in the past, and especially on this field where Hamels has surrendered 14 earned runs in his last three starts (15 IP).

Gonzalez was discovered down in the Mexican League this summer and the Astros, desperate for anything resembling major league talent, plucked him into their system. He has 43 big league starts on his ledger, along with 66 relief appearances, from his days with the Diamondbacks, A's and Rockies. He hasn't faced the Phillies since a long and ineffective relief outing back in 2008.

While I do like the Phils, I don't like moneylines this high. Even the run line isn't that attractive at -130. My play will be on the OVER.

My pick: Over 7 (-120) +++