‘Battle Los Angeles’ is MLB Series of the Week as Struggling Dodgers Host San Diego Padres in NL West Showdown
The struggling Los Angeles Dodgers managed to snap their five-game losing streak by routing the New York Mets 6-0 late on Thursday night.
L.A.’s longtime National League West rivals, the San Diego Padres lost their second straight game in a four-game set against another NL West rival on Thursday night by falling to the San Francisco Giants -. Still, San Diego has been red-hot, having won 0 of its last 5 games overall heading into tonight’s series opener.
Starting tonight, both NL West ballclubs will look to hit the annual MLB All-Star break on a positive note when they square off in a three-game series that kicks off at Dodgers Stadium at 0:0 PM ET.
The two California rivals have mostly been headed in different directions this season but that fact should only serve to heighten the excitement that MLB betting enthusiasts have for this longtime NL West rivalry, not lessen it.
First of all, the two teams have split six regular season meetings this year evenly, though the Padres have taken two straight and three of the last four meetings overall, including their emphatic 7-0 road win on May st.
Not only that, but this NL West showdown features a pair of 0 MLB All-Stars, starting with the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, the co-leader in the National League in home runs and San Diego’s often overpowering closer Heath Bell .
So, let’s forget all about the mess that the Dodgers’ organization has become thanks to the foolhardy actions of owner Frank McCourt and his soon-to-be ex-wife Jamie and let’s concentrate on what lies ahead for both teams in this pre-All-Star break series.
The desperate Dodgers are in last place in the NL West but will have a chance to make up some ground as they will play of their next 4 games against their NL West rivals. Unfortunately, L.A. is just -5 against their division rivals this season.
San Diego is in fourth place in the NL West one spot above the Dodgers but has a rock-solid closer in Bell as the right-hander has converted 60 of his last 6 save opportunities since May 9, 00, including 6 of 7 chances this season.
San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers
Radio: SD: XPRS 090, XEMO 860 LAD: KABC 790, KTNQ 00 TV: SD: 4 San Diego LAD: PRIME, TWC 858
The Padres will hand the ball to talented starter Mat Latos hoping the right-hander can duplicate each of his last two starts in which he has allowed an identical three earned runs. Over his last 0 starts, Latos has limited the opposition to three earned runs or less in seven starts. Unfortunately, Latos has picked up just one win in his last five starts since June 5. The Dodgers will counter with gifted hurler Chad Billingsley and they will stand a good chance of winning if the right-hander can duplicate his last start.
Billingsley tossed a complete-game three-hitter against the Angels on Sunday but ended up as the hard-luck loser after giving up a two-run jack to Russell Branyan in the seventh inning that turned out to be the difference in a 3- loss.
The Pick: I like the Dodgers to take the opener in this series behind Billingsley despite the fact that they are just -4 in their L/5 games against a right-handed starter and a identical -4 in their L/5 home starts. If ever a guy were for a win, it’s Billingsley in this contest.
Radio: SD: XPRS 090, XEMO 860 LAD: KABC 790, KTNQ 00 TV: SD: FOX LAD: FOX, TWC 858
While the Padres haven’t officially announced who will start this game for them, it’s likely that veteran right-hander Aaron Harang will take the mound looking to record his third straight win after tossing 70 pitches in a Minor League rehab stint Monday. Harang had been on the disabled list since June 0 with a right foot contusion.
Padres’ rookie right-hander Rubby De La Rosa has lost four straight starts and gave up three earned runs on five hits in 7.0 innings of a 5- loss to the Mets on July 4.
The Pick: I like the Dodgers to get the solid home win here if Aaron Harang makes the start in this contest. I’m fully expecting the Dodgers to jump all over San Diego’s young starter if he makes a mistake pitch.
San Diego has lost four straight with their young right-hander on the mound while getting outscored -5 during the stretch and I expect them to lose to L.A. in this contest.
Padres’ right-hander Tim Stauffer has won three straight starts coming into tonight’s series opener while limiting the opposition to two earned runs or less in a whopping six consecutive starts.
L.A. right-hander Ted Lilly has lost four consecutive starts while allowing at least five earned runs in three of those starts. Prior to his last quartet of starts, Lilly had limited the opposition to two earned runs or less in four straight starts.
The Pick: San Diego’s Tim Stauffer is on fire while L.A.’s Ted Lilly is throwing the ball like a wide-eyed rookie that has been overwhelmed at the prospects of pitching in the big leagues.
Make no doubt MLB fanatics, the outcome of this contest is closer to a lock for the Padres than anything else and I fully expect the Padres to cruise to victory behind the underrated Tim Stauffer in this contest.
To review, I’m taking the Dodgers win this three-game series by taking the first two games before dropping the finale.
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