The set-up: LA was busy in Milwaukee on Sunday, while the Phillies had a double-header at home against the Padres. Two starters which put together above average first half performances collide in the opener of this one, but I believe Ross Stripling and the visitors have the advantage. The home side goes with Zach Eflin.

The pitchers: Stripling is so far 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA. In his final start before the break he'd allow just six hits and one walk with five strikeouts over six shutout frames of work. 58 of Stripling's 90 pitches went for strikes and it pushed his walk rate down to 1.3 BB/9. Stripling also comes in confident with the 4-2, 1.81 ERA record on the road.

Eflin is so far 7-2 with a 3.15 ERA. It's hard to say anything negative about Eflin, as for the most part he's exceeded expectations for the Phillies this season. But note that he did land on the 10-day DL prior to the All Star break because of a blister issue, so I'm definitely thinking that the extra rest will in fact lead to some rust in this one.

The pick: Take it for what you will as well, but LA is 57-38 the last three seasons as a road favorite in the -125 to -175 range, while Philadelphia is just 20-34 in the same time span as a home underdog in the +125 to +175 range. I think Stripling outlasts Eflin and I like the hard-hitting visiting side to take the opener of this National League series. Play on the Dodgers.