Giants at Phillies Free MLB Picks - August 18th, 2010: The San Francisco Giants (67-53) will take on the Philadelphia Phillies (67-51) in the second game (Wednesday 7:05pm ET, on ESPN) of a huge three game series with immense wild-card implications. The Phillies sit just 2.5 games behind the Braves in the NL East, while the Giants are 5 games behind the NL West leading Padres. These two National League playoff races should provide for an amazing last month in this 2010 MLB Betting season. Philadelphia is currently leading the wild card by one game over the Giants, giving San Francisco the opportunity to tie the standings with just under six weeks to play. Hammerhead Sports delivers the most accurate free sports picks and free MLB picks from our MLB predictions experts. Find our winning MLB Picks selections below.

The Phillies couldn't be getting Chase Utley back at a more appropriate time. In the Middle of a playoff push, the Phillies get back an important left handed bat that looms especially large in the postseason. As for tonight, the fighting Phils send out Joe Blanton, who has just two decisions in his last nine starts, going 1-1 with a 4.81 ERA. He gave up four runs, eight hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings Thursday against the Dodgers earning a no-decision in Philadelphia's 10-9 win. The Giants will want to jump on Blanton early, as he's given up 14 first-innings runs in his last nine starts. Blanton has only given up two first-inning runs in six starts against San Francisco, but he's 1-3 with a 5.08 ERA. Former Phillie Pat Burrell, who went deep Tuesday and has 11 RBIs in his past six games, is 2 for 9 with two homers against Blanton. Bodog Sportsbook has the San Francisco Giants (+1.5) as the Free MLB Picks selection over the Philadelphia Phillies (-1.5).

Enjoy MLB Betting at Bodog Sportsbook and receive an upfront 10% cash bonus.

San Francisco's rotation is 0-8 with a 5.97 ERA in its last 13 games since Jonathan Sanchez won at Colorado on August 3rd. Matt Cain (9-9, 3.11 ERA) takes hist turn at ending that run, and he'll be looking for his sixth quality start in seven outings. He gave up three runs and struck out nine over six innings Thursday against the Cubs, but left without a decision in an 8-7 win. Cain is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA in four career starts versus Philadelphia, giving up six homers in 20 innings. Utley has hit three of those and is 6 for 12 overall against Cain, but he's hitting just .111 (6 for 54) in his last 15 games against the Giants. With the MLB Betting Odds total run line at , the Under seems likely, in a game that will be tightly-contested, with an October-like atmosphere.