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Sports Advisors

N.Y. Mets (39-41) at Philadelphia (41-37)
The freefalling Mets send ace Johan Santana (9-6, 3.34 ERA) to the mound as they try to avoid getting swept in a three-game series against the rival Phillies, who will counter with Joe Blanton (4-4, 5.08) at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia followed up Friday’s 7-2 series-opening victory with Saturday’s 4-1 triumph. Despite the results the last two days, the Phillies are just 5-15 in their last 20 contests, dropping eight of 11 at home during this slump. On the bright side, the defending champs are on runs of 23-11 against southpaw starters and 66-31 on Sunday.

New York has now dropped seven of its last nine and is 11-20 since the start of June, including 6-12 on the road. The Mets are on further slides of 3-11 on Sunday, 1-7 against winning teams and 1-5 versus right-handed starters.

New York won four of the first five series matchups against Philadelphia this season, but the Phillies have now taken the last four in a row.

After two straight strong outings (three earned runs allowed in 14 1/3 innings), Santana got rocked in his most recent start at Milwaukee on Tuesday, surrendering six runs (five earned) on nine hits and four walks in six innings, losing 6-3. The veteran southpaw has a 9.74 ERA in his last five starts. Still, New York is 19-8 in Santana’s last 27 trips to the mound, including 9-4 in his last 13 versus divisional foes.

Santana is 3-4 with a 5.18 ERA in seven games on the road this season and 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in eight career starts against the Phillies, including 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in two contests this year. In fact, the Mets are unbeaten in Santana’s last four starts against Philadelphia.

Philly is winless in Blanton’s last five starts, including Tuesday’s 5-4 loss at Atlanta in which the portly right-hander gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings. Despite the recent slump behind Blanton, the Phillies are still on runs of 9-4 at home, 10-4 against the N.L. East and 5-0 on Sunday when the veteran pitches. Also, Blanton has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven outings.

Blanton is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA in seven starts at Citizens Bank this year, but 1-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three career starts against New York.

The under is on runs of 7-2 for the Mets in N.L. East contests, 5-2 for the Mets against right-handed starters, 5-1-2 for Philadelphia overall and 11-5-1 for Philadelphia against lefty starters. However, the over is 4-1 in Santana’s last five starts against the Phillies and 4-2-1 in the last seven head-to-head clashes at Citizens Bank.

ATS ADVANTAGE: N.Y. METS


AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tampa Bay (44-38) at Texas (44-35)

Matt Garza (6-5, 3.45) goes after his third consecutive victory when he leads the Rays against Scott Feldman (6-2, 4.09) and the Rangers in the nationally televised finale of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark.

Texas is looking for the series sweep tonight after topping Tampa Bay 3-1 on Friday and 12-4 on Saturday. The Rangers have won four in a row – all at home – and the run comes on the heels of a 3-8 slump. The Rangers are 19-7 in their last 26 home games against opponents with a losing road mark, but they’ve dropped four of their last five on Sunday.

The Rays have followed up a seven-game winning streak by losing three in a row. Still, Tampa Bay has won six of seven against right-handed starters and six of nine against winning teams. However, it is now 9-20 in its last 29 games against Texas in Rangers Ballpark.

Garza has given up a single run in each of his last two starts, scattering 10 hits and six walks over 15 combined innings, beating the Phillies 7-1 at home and the Blue Jays 4-1 on the road. Prior to this recent run, the right-hander had completed seven innings just once in his seven previous starts, and the Rays were 1-4 in his previous five outings.

Garza is 2-3 with a 3.80 ERA in seven road starts this season, but 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in four career starts against the Rangers.

Feldman has gotten 18 runs of support in his last two starts, with Texas winning both games by scores of 9-8 at Arizona and 9-5 against the Angels at home Tuesday. Feldman surrendered three runs in six innings in each of those contests, and the right-hander has yielded three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 12 starts this season.

Texas is 8-3 in Feldman’s last 11 starts overall, but they’re 5-12 in his last 17 home outings and 1-4 in his last five Sunday contests. This season, Feldman is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA in seven starts at Rangers Ballpark, and he’s 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five career appearances (one start) against Tampa Bay.

With Feldman on the hill, the “under” is on streaks of 27-11 overall, 7-1 at home, 4-1 on Sunday and 9-1 against the A.L. East. Also, the under is 11-4-1 in Garza’s 16 starts this season, including 7-0 in his last seven trips to the hill. Additionally, all seven of Garza’s road starts in 2009 have stayed low, and his three starts against Texas last year played to the under.

As a team, Tampa Bay is on “under” runs of 6-1 overall (4-1 on the road), 5-1 against winning teams, 16-5-1 against right-handed starters and 4-1 on Sunday. Similarly, the Rangers carry “under” trends of 37-15-1 overall, 20-7-1 at home, 7-1 against the A.L. East, 22-8-1 against right-handed starters, 13-3-1 against righties at home and 14-3-1 on Sunday. Lastly, the under is 5-2 in the last seven Rays-Rangers battles, all in Texas.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER