Philadelphia at Pittsburgh: It’s worth spotlighting a matchup featuring the newest “best” team in baseball. And the Phillies are certainly earning that title, vaulting to a 68-49 record, playing .700 ball of late, and reaping the benefits of ace pitcher Cliff Lee. Can they be stopped? Probably not in the NL, but if I had to pick the NLCS matchup today, it’d be Philly and St. Louis (although I can’t see Smoltz making that much of a difference, even healthy). In this one, instead of Lee, the Phillies send Joe Blanton to the mound (7-6, 3.88). His numbers haven’t been very impressive, especially in the NL, and the Phillies are 5-5 in the last 10 he’s started. For the Pirates, a bright spot in Ross Ohlendorf at pitcher (11-8, 4.15 – which for the Pirates are strong numbers). The Pirates are 6-4 over their last 10 when Ohlendorf starts. The Pirates are near the bottom of the NL in nearly every pitching and hitting stat, it’s no wonder their struggling to stay out of the cellar. The Phillies are improving, but still horrible with a .259 team average (11th in the NL alone). Will Philly let their guard down, if just for a single road series, against an opponent they’re probably taking for granted? Could happen. Figure them for a sizable favorite, but I have a hunch the Pirates won’t be a pushover in this game. Phillies -160, Pirates +140.

Texas at Yankees: Perhaps the best baseball betting series of the week in the AL, the scorching Rangers take on the steadily rising Yanks. Both teams should be thinking playoffs at this point, as both a motivating factor and a realistic goal to prepare for. It could also be a first-round matchup preview, so you can be they’ll all be juiced up (pardon the pun) for this one. Millwood goes for the Rangers (yeah, he’s still in the league). His 3.48 is actually great for the AL this season, which isn’t saying much in its own right. The Yanks send Joba Chamberlain, who didn’t get a huge contract as a free agent in the offseason, but is certainly playing like a star with an 8-3 record for New York. The Yanks offense will likely pick apart Millwood here; they’re 2nd in the AL with a .278 average. If they put up 5, it should be enough support for Joba. The Yanks have won their last two series against AL West teams, and will look to continue their dominance over the division here. Yanks as the home team -135, Texas +120. I wouldn’t count on an upset, even with Texas playing well. Take the Yankees.