Rockies (44-49) vs Dodgers (46-45)
Sometimes it looks like nobody wants to win the National League West this season, doesn’t it?. Colorado has a golden opportunity this weekend as they face off with the suddenly scorching Los Angeles Dodgers.
Friday July 12
Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
10:10PM
Probable Starters:
COL: Juan Nicasio
LAD: Clayton Kershaw (L)
Moneyline: Los Angeles -240, Colorado +230
Over/Under: 6.5
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Colorado
These teams have split their last 10 games this season, with both teams showing an ability to win on the road. Tonight will be tough as the Rockies will face the Dodgers ace and probably the best pitcher in baseball – Clayton Kershaw.
They are going to need the bats to come alive other than OF Carlos Gonzalez, who went yard to score the lone run last night.
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Rockies starter Juan Nicasio is far from dominating but it is his last few starts that have really crushed his overall numbers. The righty was hammered in his last start at Boston, seeing his ERA jump by 2/3 of a run as a result. He has lost his last two starts and the Rox have lost the last three times he has taken the hill. He does not have great career numbers versus Los Angeles but in his lone start against the Dodgers this season Colorado did win.
He just didn’t factor in much giving up 3ER over just 4 innings. Nicasio has had trouble working deep into games – he has not pitched more than 6 innings in a start all season long.
Los Angeles
It took a long time for the Dodgers to get on track this season. Now that they have they have been awesome going 16-3 since June 22 to get above .500 and into second place, just 1.5 games behind Arizona. It is hard to believe that if things break right over the weekend they could actually be in first place. The attention has all been on OF Yasiel Puig but veterans Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez have been terrific. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
The buzz has been about Puig but in less at bats Ramirez is hitting for a higher average with more RBI – go figure.
Clayton Kershaw is enjoying another elite season and he enters his final start before the All-Star Break leading the Majors in ERA and second in the National League in strikeouts. The timing of the start and his numbers make him a very likely candidate to start the game if Mets saviour Matt Harvey isn’t selected. Kershaw has been especially fantastic of late winning his last three starts while giving up just 3ER over 25 innings.
You know you are pitching well when you are giving up less walks that runs. In case you are thinking that Kershaw is always this good you are not that far off but this season is tracking better than any other he has had to date.
Even though the value is so great it is really hard to go against the Dodgers when Kershaw is on the hill…especially at home. Whenever he pitches the totals are always low and at 6.5, so tempting. That is where I think the better value is here.
The Dodgers have been playing well and even if Kershaw is off and the Rockies win the chances of it being 3-2 seem pretty slim…or you could just pass and appreciate the artistry that Kershaw brings most times out.
O/U: Over
Score Prediction: Los Angeles 5 – Colorado 3
