Baseball's best team, the Philadelphia Phillies, is in the Evergreen State tonight to kick off an inter-league series with the Seattle Mariners. Tonight's opener, which is scheduled for a 10:10 PM ET start at Safeco Field, features a terrific pitching duel between the Phillies Roy Oswalt and the Mariners Michael Pineda. Sports Betting Odds have Seattle listed as a -120 home favorite; the game total is set at 6.5 with the Over drawing -120 odds.
Philadelphia ran its win streak to seven 
games yesterday after recording a four game sweep of division rival Florida at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies, now 44-26 overall, capped off the extended set with a 3-0 shutout.
Cliff Lee gave up just two hits in the complete game performance, notching his seventh win of the season in the process. The Phillies offense posted 10 hits, eight of which came off Marlins starter Javier Vazquez in the first five innings of play. Lee produced two of those hits, including an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth.
The victory extended the Phillies National League East lead over the Braves to five games. The Marlins, which have dropped nine of their last 10 games, now trail Philadelphia by 11.5 games.
Seattle is coming off a 1-2 series loss to AL West rival Los Angeles, but, despite the slip up, the Mariners maintained their second place position in the division standings. In fact, due to the first place Rangers recent struggles (lost five in a row), Seattle (35-34) trails Texas by just a half game.
The Mariners will look to take the West lead tonight with 22 year old sensation Michael Pineda toeing the rubber. Pineda is coming off a miserable outing against the Tigers, one in which he allowed eight hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings; however, he still owns a 6-4 record, 2.72 ERA, and 1.04 WHIP.
The Phillies will counter Pineda with 10 year veteran Roy Oswalt, who improved to 4-4 in his last start after limiting the Cubs to three earned runs over seven innings. Oswalt is 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA in six away starts this season.
Phillies vs Mariners MLB Odds June 17, 2011:
Philadelphia Phillies +1.5 (-210), Over 6.5 (-120), +100 (Moneyline)
Seattle Mariners -1.5 (+175), Under 6.5 (+100), -120 (Moneyline)
