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Yesterday both the Phillies and Mets had their half inning of explosion. The Mets scored four runs early on and the Phillies 3 in the bottom of the 9th. Those are the type of innings that drive total bettors crazy. Especially when it’s two teams that have shown to be struggling teams at the plate this season.

Today Dillon Gee and Cole Hamels head to the mound for their respective teams. The total is set at a modest 7 runs with the juice leaning on the over at -105. That’s where I’m headed with today’s free play.

Gee has been up and down over the last month. With as many times as the Mets and Phillies have played this season, you’d expect the Phils to have a solid green light on Gee’s pitches. In two starts this season against the Phillies, Gee, has given up three home runs. The latest outing was July 29th in which Gee gave up five runs and three walks. Over his last three starts he has struggled with his control. He has walked eight batters over those three starts and this while averaging just five innings on the mound.

Opposing pitcher Cole Hamels has been spectacular and is why he is a -165 favorite. But that’s too high of a price to pay on the Phillies. Hamels has had four consecutive great starts after a poor stretch of five games before the All-Star break.

Something happened for the better for Hamels during the All-Star break. But even with the great pitchers a poor outing is bound to happen.

The Phillies have had all types of issues with their pitching staff. Cliff Lee is back on the DL and they just traded Roberto Hernandez. That has to play some sort of psychological affect for this Phillies team.

This will be the fourth start this season for Hamels against the Mets. He was roughed up back in May for six runs, but in his last two starts he has only given up a run a piece.

Count on getting 3-5 runs from the Phillies off of Gee, and a run or two off their bullpen. Hamels has been going deep into games over his last four starts and I just don’t see him doing it a 5th time.

Play the over.