LA DODGERS vs ARIZONA
GAME: Los Angeles Angels (29-30) at Chicago Cubs (31-26)
DATE/TIME: Monday, June 03 – 4:05 PM EST
WHERE: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), WGN (Chicago)
LINE: 130
PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

Oddsmakers currently have the ARIZONA listed as 130 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Chicago Cubs hope to halt their freefall when they host the surging Los Angeles Angels on Monday afternoon for an interleague contest, which is a makeup for the game on April 14 that was postponed due to snow. The Cubs, who have lost six of their last seven, were swept in three games over the weekend at St. Louis after a 2-1 setback Sunday to fall out of first place in the National League Central.

Chicago managed just three hits – failing to score until the ninth inning – on Sunday and totaled just six runs in the series at St. Louis to drop 1 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the division, but plays the next seven games at home where it is 18-10. Veteran lefty Jon Lester looks to rebound from a rough stretch at the end of May when he takes the mound for the Cubs on Monday and the Angels counter with right-hander Trevor Cahill, who is also hoping to turn things around after an uneven month. Los Angeles can climb back to the .500 mark with a victory after winning seven of its last nine contests, including Sunday’s 13-3 triumph at Seattle, and will play nine in a row at home following the one-game set in the Windy City. David Fletcher had two doubles and a single Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games (21-for-49) while slugger Albert Pujols homered for the second straight day and is one blast from recording 200 in each league.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Trevor Cahill (2-5, 6.92 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jon Lester (3-4, 3.59)

Cahill hopes to change his fortunes in June after a rough month of May in which he went 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in five starts across 23 innings. The 31-year-old California native, who has served up 16 homers in 11 starts, allowed six runs on six hits across 4 1/3 innings in a loss at Oakland on Monday. Jason Heyward is 5-for-10 with a homer versus Cahill, who is 3-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Cubs.

Lester was rolling along with a 1.16 ERA before struggling mightily in his last three starts while allowing 19 runs (16 earned) across 14 innings combined. The 35-year-old Washington native served up four homers in those three starts after surrendering three in his first 10 outings. Pujols is 5-for-15 with two doubles against Lester, who is 5-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Angels and 26-15 in interleague play.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles CF Mike Trout is 8-for-14 with a pair of homers and seven RBIs in his last four contests.

2. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo saw his 13-game hitting streak end on Sunday, but is 22-for-53 with 14 RBIs in the past 14 contests.

3. Angels LF Cesar Puello is 9-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs in four games since being recalled.

PREDICTION: Cubs 6, Angels 2

The post LA DODGERS vs. ARIZONA 6/3/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

NY METS vs LA DODGERS
GAME: New York Mets (26-27) at Los Angeles Dodgers (36-18)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 28 – 10:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -195
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -195 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

Cody Bellinger used both his bat and arm to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the series opener and looks to inflict more damage on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game set against the visiting New York Mets. Bellinger belted his 19th home run and threw out two baserunners – one at the plate and another at third base – as the Dodgers recorded a 9-5 triumph on Monday.

Bellinger has been a force all season, and his heroics on Monday helped Los Angeles win for the 10th time in 12 games. The Dodgers have scored 37 runs during their four-game winning streak and at least six in nine of their last 10 victories. New York was coming off a 6-1 homestand and recorded 15 hits in the series opener but stranded 10 baserunners. Adeiny Hechavarria went 3-for-5 with a homer and Amed Rosario also registered three hits as the Mets scored at least five runs for the seventh time in eight contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (3-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-1, 2.67)

Matz settled for a no-decision against Washington in his last start after giving up just one run and 10 hits over six innings. He served up three home runs while working a total of 9 1/3 total frames in his previous two turns – both losses. Matz, who turns 28 on Wednesday, is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers and has allowed two homers by Justin Turner (3-for-12).

Hill has put together two strong efforts, going 1-0 with 17 strikeouts while allowing one run and seven hits over 12 innings. The 39-year-old has given up five hits or fewer in four of his five turns and owns a solid 1.07 WHIP. Hill is 2-2 with a 7.45 ERA in eight career appearances (six starts) against the Mets.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers activated RHP Joe Kelly from the bereavement list, placed Austin Barnes (groin) on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow C Will Smith from Oklahoma City while optioning LHP Caleb Ferguson to the Triple-A club.

2. New York CF Juan Lagares was hitless in three at-bats on Monday and is just 1-for-24 over his last nine contests.

3. Los Angeles OF-INF Chris Taylor went 3-for-5 with a homer in the series opener and has gone 7-for-13 with four runs scored over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Mets 4

The post NY METS vs. LA DODGERS 5/28/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

NY METS vs LA DODGERS
GAME: New York Mets (26-26) at Los Angeles Dodgers (35-18)
DATE/TIME: Monday, May 27 – 8:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, SNY (New York), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -165
PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Mets 2

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -165 point favorites versus the NY METS, while the game’s total is sitting at 6.5.

Jacob deGrom will square off against a three-time Cy Young Award winner for the second time in as many starts on Monday when the visiting New York Mets play the opener of a four-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. DeGrom, who is the reigning award winner, will test his mettle against Clayton Kershaw after receiving a no-decision versus Max Scherzer on Wednesday.

Former Met Justin Turner returned from a day off to go 5-for-5 with three runs scored on Sunday as Los Angeles posted its third straight win and ninth in 11 outings with an 11-7 victory over Pittsburgh. While the 34-year-old has hit in four straight games in which he’s played, he is a disastrous 1-for-19 in his career versus deGrom. New York has quieted the talk surrounding manager Mickey Callaway’s job security by winning six of its last seven, highlighted by overcoming an early three-run deficit with Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Detroit. Adeiny Hechavarria belted a three-run homer for the second time in three games on Sunday, but is 1-for-10 in his career versus Kershaw.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (3-5, 3.72 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (4-0, 3.33)

DeGrom overcame Adam Eaton’s solo homer on his fourth pitch in the first inning to allow just one more hit while striking out eight in six innings against Washington. The 30-year-old has been taken deep three times in his last four contests, although his road ERA (3.30) is over three-quarters of a run better (4.18) that his total at Citi Field. Joc Pederson (2-for-14) and Cody Bellinger (1-for-8) have struggled against deGrom, who owns an 0-4 mark in eight career starts versus the Dodgers despite posting a 3.20 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.

While deGrom’s record versus Los Angeles leaves a bit to be desired, Kershaw owns a sparkling 8-0 mark with a 1.98 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 13 career meetings against New York. The 31-year-old Kershaw yielded two runs on six hits and matched a season high by striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings of a 7-3 win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Kershaw, who is 3-0 with a 3.25 ERA in four starts at home, kept the ball in the park after surrendering five homers in his previous three outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles will bid to become the second team in the majors to win 20 games at home (Houston).

2. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso is 4-for-26 with 11 strikeouts in his last eight games.

3. Dodgers OF Alex Verdugo (back) is expected to return to the lineup for the series opener, manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Mets 2

The post NY METS vs. LA DODGERS 5/27/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

LA DODGERS vs PITTSBURGH
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (34-18) at Pittsburgh Pirates (25-24)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 26 – 1:35 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
LINE: 140
PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Pirates 2

Oddsmakers currently have the PITTSBURGH listed as 140 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.5.

The Los Angeles Dodgers try for their 10th straight victory in the all-time series when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday for the finale of their three-game series. Los Angeles, which is 17-2 versus Pittsburgh since 2017, rolled to a 7-2 win on Saturday and is 5-2 on its eight-game road trip and 8-2 in its last 10 overall contests as Cody Bellinger continues to swing a hot bat.

Bellinger leads the National League in batting average (.391) and RBIs (48) after going 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs on Saturday. Los Angeles also received plenty of production from its Nos. 1-3 hitters as Joc Pederson, Max Muncy and Corey Seager were a combined 6-for-14 with three RBIs and four runs scored. The Pirates have lost four of their last five games – all at home – and have been outscored 37-21 during that span. Los Angeles’ Kenta Maeda on Sunday makes his first start since recovering from a left adductor contusion and opposes Chris Archer, who lost at Dodger Stadium last month.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (5-2, 3.51 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (1-4, 5.55)

Maeda was rolling when he went on the injured list, putting together a 14 2/3-inning scoreless streak after allowing three hits and registering a season-high 12 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of a 2-0 victory over San Diego on May 15. The 31-year-old native of Japan hasn’t yielded a run in three of his last four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA during that span. Maeda, who has recorded 52 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings this season, is 1-1 with a 4.05 ERA in two starts versus Pittsburgh.

Archer permitted four runs – three earned – and six hits in five innings of a 5-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday for his fourth straight setback. The 30-year-old native of North Carolina dropped a 6-2 decision at Los Angeles on April 26, allowing six runs in six frames before landing on the injured list (thumb). Bellinger belted a two-run homer in that contest off Archer, who is 0-2 with a 5.73 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (concussion-like symptoms) left Saturday’s game in the fourth inning after getting hit in the helmet by Bellinger’s back swing.

2. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner (shin) did not play Saturday but is expected to be in the lineup for the series finale.

3. Pittsburgh OF Melky Cabrera, who recorded his 1,900th career hit on May 19 in San Diego, played in his 1,800th game on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Pirates 2

The post LA DODGERS vs. PITTSBURGH 5/26/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

LA DODGERS vs TAMPA BAY
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (32-17) at Tampa Bay Rays (27-18)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 22 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
LINE:
PREDICTION: Rays 5, Dodgers 4

Oddsmakers currently have the TAMPA BAY listed as point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to match their offensive performance from the series opener when they go for a sweep of the two-game interleague set Wednesday night against the host Tampa Bay Rays. The Dodgers scored three times in the first four innings and received a hit from every spot in the batting order to take a six-run lead before settling for a 7-3 victory Tuesday.

Cody Bellinger, who leads the majors with a .404 batting average, had a single to go along with two walks Tuesday and is 15-for-34 while launching three of his 17 homers and scoring nine runs over the last 10 games for National League West-leading Los Angeles. Rich Hill gets the chance to finish the sweep when he takes the mound for his fifth start of the season for the Dodgers and Tampa Bay will go with an “opener” for the second straight day as Ryne Stanek makes his 100th major league appearance Wednesday. While Los Angeles has won six of its last seven contests, the Rays are wobbling a bit after dropping three of their last four and they are just 12-11 at home overall this season to drop two games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East. Tommy Pham had a double Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games for Tampa Bay and teammate Avisail Garcia is 9-for-28 over the same span.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (1-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (0-1, 3.70)

Hill comes to Tampa after his best of four starts this year, limiting Cincinnati to two hits and striking out a season-best 10 over six scoreless innings of a 6-0 win. The 39-year-old Boston native has struck out 24 and walked just three across 21 total innings, leaving him one out from 900 frames in his career. Travis d’Arnaud and Guillermo Heredia have the only hits in 17 at-bats (five strikeouts) against Hill for the current Tampa Bay roster.

Stanek struggled when he came out of the bullpen Sunday, but has been outstanding in the “opener” role while posting a 1.93 ERA across 18 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts. The 27-year-old permitted three runs on one hit and two walks over one-third of an inning against the Yankees on Sunday after giving up one run over two frames in a start two days earlier. Stanek faces the Dodgers for the first time and is expected to be followed by Yonny Chirinos.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 187-188 during interleague play in their history, but 29-12 since the start of the 2017 season.

2. Tampa Bay 1B-3B Yandy Diaz was a late scratch from Tuesday’s lineup with a left hand contusion after being hit by a pitch Sunday.

3. Los Angeles LHP Julio Urias was reinstated Tuesday after he was on leave as Major League Baseball looks into his arrest for suspicion of domestic battery on May 13.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Dodgers 4

The post LA DODGERS vs. TAMPA BAY 5/22/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

LA DODGERS vs TAMPA BAY
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (31-17) at Tampa Bay Rays (27-17)
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, May 21 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
LINE: 130
PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Rays 1

Oddsmakers currently have the TAMPA BAY listed as 130 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their last 14 regular-season games with Clayton Kershaw on the mound and look to continue that run Tuesday night in the opener of a two-game interleague set against the host Tampa Bay Rays. The three-time National League Cy Young winner has earned the victory in seven of those contests, including three this season, and will make his first career start at Tropicana Field.

The NL-best Dodgers defeated 8-3 Cincinnati on Sunday and have allowed a total of 10 runs while winning five of their last six games and Cody Bellinger is 5-for-11 with two homers in his last three contests to improve his major league-best batting average to .405. The Rays will rely on their bullpen again without a regular starter after a wild weekend at Yankee Stadium, when they coughed up a two-run lead in the final frame to lose the opener, won the middle game in extra innings and gave up seven runs in the sixth inning to drop Sunday’s finale 13-5. “Our pitching has been outstanding for us this year, and they are going to continue to be outstanding, but today, it wasn’t their day,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said Sunday of his team, which leads the majors with a 2.98 ERA. Brandon Lowe has warmed up the last four games for the Rays, going 5-for-15 with a pair of homers, while teammate Tommy Pham has hit safely in six consecutive games but is 5-for-28 lifetime against the Dodgers.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 3.40 ERA) vs. Rays RH Hunter Wood (1-0, 0.00)

Kershaw earned a win in his second straight start last Tuesday when he held San Diego to three runs on five hits (two homers) with five strikeouts over seven innings of a 6-3 triumph. The 31-year-old Texan gave up a total of 10 runs in his last three starts after permitting five combined in the first three of 2019. Avisail Garcia is 2-for-2 with a walk versus Kershaw, who won his only previous appearance against the Rays with eight innings of one earned-run ball.

Wood is slated to open the game for the second time this season after giving up two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings in the role April 18 against Baltimore. The 25-year-old Arkansas native has yet to give up a run in five appearances overall this season, permitting six hits over 7 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. Jalen Beeks appears to be in line to take the ball in the second or third inning and the left-hander owns a 3-0 record with a 2.25 ERA while striking out 33 over 32 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles 3B Justin Turner is one homer from 100 for his career and SS Corey Seager is two RBIs from 200.

2. Tampa Bay 1B-3B Yandy Diaz suffered a hand contusion after being hit by a pitch Sunday and is day-to-day.

3. The teams last met in 2016 when they split four games, with each going 1-1 on their home field.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Rays 1

The post LA DODGERS vs. TAMPA BAY 5/21/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

LA DODGERS vs CINCINNATI
GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (29-16) at Cincinnati Reds (20-24)
DATE/TIME: Friday, May 17 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
LINE: 120
PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Reds 3

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as 120 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.

The Los Angeles Dodgers typically have been synonymous with quality starting pitching through their franchise’s history, and this year’s club seems primed to add to that reputation with its recent efforts. The Dodgers’ rotation should have a chance to prove themselves yet again on Friday, when the team begins a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds and their middling offense.

Los Angeles is entering this series on the heels of a 7-2 homestand and won for the 14th time in 19 overall contests on Wednesday as it completed a two-game sweep of San Diego. The Dodgers’ starting pitchers have been on point throughout that latter stretch – going 10-1 with a 2.30 ERA and 122 strikeouts versus 17 walks across 121 1/3 innings, playing a key role in helping the club shut out the opposition four times in its last eight contests. Cincinnati also is riding high after downing the Chicago Cubs 4-2 in Thursday’s rubber match between the National League Central rivals, giving the team its second straight series victory. The Reds did not fare very well when they met the Dodgers in mid-April, however, averaging two runs while getting swept in Los Angeles.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Rich Hill (0-1, 4.20 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 4.17)

Hill suffered his first loss of 2019 against Washington on April 9, giving up three runs after facing only four batters before coasting over his final 4 2/3 innings. His scheduled start was moved back a day in order to face the Reds’ predominantly left-handed lineup, as southpaws are batting only .154 against the 39-year-old through three turns. Eugenio Suarez is 2-for-3 with a homer versus Hill, who permitted three runs – two earned – over 5 2/3 frames in a loss to the Reds last season.

DeSclafani is unbeaten over his last six starts, although he has settled for four no-decisions in that span after yielding four runs and eight hits in four innings at San Francisco on Saturday. The native of New Jersey has done his best work against right-handed hitters this season, holding them to a .174 average. Left-handed batters Joc Pederson (4-for-9, two homers, three RBIs) and Corey Seager (2-for-4) have enjoyed facing DeSclafani, who is 1-4 with a 4.11 ERA in five career starts versus Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers’ winning percentage at Great American Ball Park (.600) is the second-best mark of any NL opponent.

2. Suarez went 5-for-8 with a homer, a double and five RBIs over the final two games against the Cubs and has recorded multiple hits in six of his last seven contests.

3. Los Angeles OF Cody Bellinger leads the majors with a .401 batting average and is hitting .438 with runners in scoring position.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Reds 3

The post LA DODGERS vs. CINCINNATI 5/17/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

WASHINGTON vs LA DODGERS
GAME: Washington Nationals (16-23) at Los Angeles Dodgers (26-16)
DATE/TIME: Sunday, May 12 – 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
LINE: -145
PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as -145 point favorites versus the WASHINGTON, while the game’s total is sitting at 7.5.

Gerardo Parra made a strong first impression with the Washington Nationals in Saturday’s 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers with a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning. Waived by San Francisco last week, Parra could be in the lineup again on Sunday as the Nationals conclude their four-game series against the host Dodgers.

Max Scherzer allowed two runs over seven innings as the Nationals trailed before scoring five times in the eighth on Juan Soto’s RBI single and Parra’s second career grand slam. Soto returned to the lineup after missing 10 games due to back spasms and rejoined an outfield that includes starters Adam Eaton and Victor Robles as well as reserves Michael A. Taylor and Parra, who can play all three positions and also could see time at first base. Washington has won two of the first three games of the series against the Dodgers, who are 16-6 at home following Saturday’s setback. Justin Turner went deep on Saturday for the fifth time in his last four games and is batting .377 with six home runs and 12 RBIs over his last 13 contests.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (3-2, 3.71 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-1, 2.03)

Strasburg struck out 11 batters but allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday’s 6-0 loss to Milwaukee. The native of San Diego is third in the National League with 68 strikeouts over 51 innings in eight starts. Cody Bellinger is hitless in 11 at-bats against Strasburg, who is 2-4 with a 2.64 ERA in nine career starts versus Los Angeles – including 0-2 with a 1.80 mark in three outings at Dodger Stadium.

Ryu tossed a four-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks against Atlanta on Tuesday as he recorded his second career complete game. “It was good to watch Hyun-Jin do his thing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “Complete domination. It’s hard to say he’s under the radar, but he’s an elite pitcher in baseball.” The South Korean is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in three career starts versus Washington while limiting Howie Kendrick to a pair of hits in 11 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kendrick is 14-for-50 with three home runs over his last 15 games.

2. Bellinger has reached base safely in 38 of 40 contests this season and leads the majors with a .394 batting average.

3. The Nationals optioned INF Jake Noll to Triple-A Fresno to make room for Soto.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Nationals 3

The post WASHINGTON vs. LA DODGERS 5/12/2019 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

GAME: Los Angeles Dodgers (98-74) at Milwaukee Brewers (101-70)
DATE/TIME: Friday, October 19 – 8:39 PM EST
WHERE: Miller Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

TV: 8:35 PM
LINE: 110
PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE , LA DODGERS

Oddsmakers currently have the MILWAUKEE listed as 110 point favorites versus the LA DODGERS, while the game’s total is sitting at 8.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one win away from a second straight trip to the World Series, but they will have to earn that victory on the road. The Dodgers will try to close out the best-of-seven National League Championship Series when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday for Game 6.

“It wasn’t as easy maybe as last year to get to this point,” Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw, who pitched a gem in Game 5, told reporters. “I realize we’ve got some work to finish it off and get back. It doesn’t really matter how you get there, but thankful that we are here now, for sure.” The Dodgers fell behind 2-1 in the series after dropping Game 3 at home but turned up the pitching over the next two contests and limited the Brewers to a total of three runs in 22 innings in the two wins. “We were unable to score enough runs, really, I think that was the bottom line of the three games here,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “We gave ourselves a chance through obviously 12 innings (Tuesday) and six innings (Wednesday) to try to put ourselves in a good spot, and they’ve done a good job of holding us down offensively.” Milwaukee will try to find a way to push some runs across against left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu while making some history by tossing lefty Wade Miley at the start in back-to-back games.

TV: 8:39 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 1.59 ERA) vs. Brewers LH Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00)

Ryu tossed seven scoreless innings to earn a win over the Atlanta Braves during the NL Division Series but was not quite as sharp in Game 2 at Milwaukee. The South Korea native was reached for two runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Ryu did not allow more than two runs in any of his last five starts going back to the regular season and has yet to be reached for more than three earned runs on the season.

Miley started Game 5 but threw only five pitches, issuing a walk to Cody Bellinger, before being replaced by right-hander Brandon Woodruff in a surprise move designed to give Milwaukee a matchup advantage. “It’s not my job to question it,” Miley told reporters. “We’re trying to get to the World Series. This is the strategic side of it. I was in. Everybody bought in.” Miley dominated Los Angeles in Game 2, scattering two hits over 5 2/3 innings without factoring in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers star RF Christian Yelich is 3-for-20 without an extra-base hit in the series.

2. Los Angeles RHP Pedro Baez has thrown 6 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed a total of two hits with 10 strikeouts in six postseason appearances.

3. Milwaukee navigated Game 5 without using relievers Josh Hader, Corey Knebel or Jeremy Jeffress, and all three should be ready to go Friday.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Dodgers 2

The post LA DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE 10/19/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.

GAME: Atlanta Braves (90-72) at Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71)
DATE/TIME: Friday, October 05 – 9:37 PM EST
WHERE: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

TV: 9:35 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: LA DODGERS , ATLANTA

Oddsmakers currently have the LA DODGERS listed as point favorites versus the ATLANTA, while the game’s total is sitting at .

The Los Angeles Dodgers led the National League and finished second in the majors in homers this season, and they enter Game 2 of the NL Division Series at home Friday against the Atlanta Braves after an impressive power display in the series opener. The Dodgers slugged homers in each of the first two innings to build a four-run lead and finished the night with three blasts, as the defending NL champions posted a 6-0 victory over Atlanta in Game 1 on Thursday.

The Braves are in the playoffs for the first time in five years and have to quickly forget a forgettable start from ace Mike Foltynewicz, who allowed a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the first before a hit batsman and walk set up Max Muncy’s three-run shot with two outs in the second. Los Angeles, an overwhelming favorite to win the series and advance to the NL Championship Series, never was threatened as starter Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven innings and saved the Dodgers’ bullpen. Enrique Hernandez added a solo homer as the Dodgers, who finished the regular season with 235 homers, have belted 31 in their past 16 games. About the only positive for the Braves was the performance of left-handers Sean Newcomb and Max Fried, who combined to strike out three and allow one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings after Foltynewicz lasted just two innings.

TV: 9:37 p.m. ET, FS1

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73)

Sanchez makes his eighth career postseason appearance (seventh start), continuing a remarkable season in which he was signed by the Braves in spring training and recovered from a hamstring injury to help anchor Atlanta’s youthful rotation. The 34-year-old, who is 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in the playoffs, held left-handed batters to a .191 average in the regular season and went 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 13 road starts. Sanchez went 1-1 in two starts against the Dodgers, giving up two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings at Los Angeles to get the win on June 9.

Some were surprised when the Dodgers started Hyun-Jin Ryu in the series opener, but even though Kershaw allowed three runs or more three times in six starts in September, he finished the month 3-0 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. The 30-year-old makes his 20th career postseason start, and in 24 overall games is 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 122 innings. Kershaw beat the Braves in his only start against them in 2018, striking out eight with no walks and one run allowed in 7 2/3 innings on July 27 in Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Muncy, who hit five homers in 96 games across two seasons in Oakland, belted 35 this season and has three homers and nine RBIs in his past four games.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman, the only position player left from the 2013 playoff team, singled in the first inning of Game 1.

3. Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler – who won the NL West tiebreaker Monday – will start Game 3 in Atlanta on Sunday, while the Braves have not announced a starter.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 3, Braves 1

The post ATLANTA vs. LA DODGERS 10/5/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview appeared first on IdealCapper.