The Philadelphia Phillies are walking a tightrope of an abbreviated sixty-game season while playing during a pandemic outside of a “bubble environment.”
They didn’t get out of their first series unscathed. An outbreak among the visiting Florida Marlins caused the Phillies to postpone their next seven games.
When talking about MLB 2020 odds, it’s perhaps best to take the advice of Ferris Bueller:
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Phillies 2020 win total
Phillies win total at FanDuel Sportsbook on June 29:
- Over 31.5 (-106)
- Under 31.5 (-116)
After two one-run losses in make-up games against the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 20, the Phillies are 9-12. They’re 8-8 at home, 1-4 on the road, and 4-6 in their last ten games. That puts them tied for last in the NL East, along with the Washington Nationals.
Philadelphia Phillies odds tracker
| Opening Day | Aug. 20 (9-12 record) | Aug. 27 (12-14 record) | Sept. 3 (17-15; after trade deadline) | Sept. 22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Series | +2500 | +3300 | +3800 | +4100 | +3600 |
| National League | +1100 | +1400 | +1400 | +1700 | +1800 |
August ends with road trip
The Phillies finish the month with a four-city, ten-game road trip. Six of the games are against the first-place Atlanta Braves. The story of the already strange season has been the Phils awful bullpen. They have a league worst 8.77 ERA.
Phillies betting trends through their first 19 games:
- The Phillies have covered the run line 44.4% of the time. As underdogs, they cover 33.3% of the time.
- They are 7-5 as favorites and 2-4 as underdogs
- 50% of their games have gone OVER
MLB safety protocols a moving target
The tally of games postponed by Major League Baseball was 33 as of August 18. As major sports leagues try to operate during a pandemic, everyone has a lot of questions. Dr. Christopher Drumm, a family physician with Einstein Healthcare Network and co-host of the “Doc and the Deacon” podcast, weighed on the MLB’s updated safety protocols:
“Those that love baseball, including us physicians, were used to weather postponements, but we are now introduced to the COVID-postponement. I think the question is, ‘what can be done so that baseball can make it 60 games and the playoffs?’ MLB revised their protocols. They are reducing the size of their traveling parties. This is a great idea. Every extra person is an extra connection.
“COVID has an Ro of between 2-3. This is the reproductive value for the virus. So for every one person infected they infect around 2-3 others. This number can be reduced and then masks may help reduce this number. Now, baseball players have to wear face coverings at the hotel and public places on the road. Players also are no longer allowed to meet in hotel rooms to share food. They also have to notify a compliance officer if they intend to leave the hotel on a road trip.
“Let’s hope they have learned from the St Louis Cardinals and their trip to the casino. I think the players might have just been scared enough that they are going to try and limit their interactions.”
Will the MLB finish the season?
Drumm also commented on whether or not the MLB will finish the season:
“We are a few more outbreaks away from not getting to see a World Series. I want to trust the players and staff. I want baseball. I want safety. But I do not trust the Astros or that Barry Bonds put on fifty pounds of muscle from eating more protein. And I do not really trust Pete Rose…or the Phillies bullpen. The MLB season doesn’t seem like it will be completed. I’d bet we’d see an abrupt cancellation before a World Series winner.”
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