Betting on World Cup games is becoming an obsession with sports enthusiasts, and so is trying to figure out the Los Angeles Dodgers. After a horrible start to the 2010 season, the Dodgers are suddenly only one game out of first in the NL West chasing the equally as surprising San Diego Padres.
Even considering their improved performance over the past couple of weeks, the betting world has dropped the Dodgers from +1200 odds to win the World Series when the season started, to +2500 now. Why? Because the Dodgers are playing on borrowed time with a shaky bullpen and offense that still relies heavily on the unpredictable Manny Ramirez.
The Atlanta Braves have matured much faster than the MLB betting experts had expected, and they lead the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies by one and half games in the NL East. But the Phillies still hold the cards in the NL, and the betting odds on the Braves to win the World Series dropped from +2000 when the season started to +3000. Maybe the experts feel that the Braves young pitching staff will start to crack as the season goes on. That is possible, but just like Stanley Cup betting, you never really know until they play the games.
Starting on the mound for the Braves in this game will be right-handed pitcher Kris Medlen. When potential ace Jair Jurrjens went down with an injury, Braves manager Bobby Cox pulled Medlen out of the bullpen to take Jurrjens' place in the starting rotation.Medlen does not have an overpowering fastball. He relies mostly on breaking balls and off-speed stuff. That could be the recipe for disaster for the Braves in this game. One thing the Dodgers can do is hit the baseball.
Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound for the Dodgers and he has had a rough time the last few games. In his last outing against the Colorado Rockies, Kuroda was yanked in the fourth inning after giving up five runs on 10 hits. His ERA sits at 3.55, but he does have a winning record at 5-3.
If the Dodgers win this game they will tie the idle Padres in wins with 31. The Braves can put a little more room between themselves and the idle Phillies with a win. This game has the potential to be a home run derby, and that is exactly the kind of game that Manny Ramirez likes.
Jason Heyward possesses the power for the Braves as he sits at 10 home runs on the season. Troy Glaus, as expected, is also high on the Braves power list with nine homers this season. But the Dodgers get power from players like Ramirez, Andre Ethierand Matt Kemp. Those three have combined for 26 home runs this season.
The Dodgers will try to get to Kuroda early and if the Dodger defense can hold up, and if Kris Medlen can keep the Braves in the park, then this has the potential to be a very one-sided win for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4
