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MLB Betting – L.A. vs. San Francisco Preview & Pick

Shea weighs in with his MLB Free Pick for Friday. It’s the L.A. Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants matching up at AT&T Park, The Giants are currently 120-moneyline favorites…

MLB Betting – Dodgers vs Giants Preview & Pick

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ playoff dream ended long ago. But It’s nice to write about them for a change since they have two very important items on their agenda.

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MLB Betting – Dodgers vs Giants Preview & Pick
Date: Friday, September 9, 2011
Venue: AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
Broadcast: FSPT, KNTV
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Giants -120
Over/Under: 5.5
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Los Angeles Dodgers (69-72 through September 7)
Clayton Kershaw (17-5, 2.41)

One is Clayton Kershaw’s quest for the National League Cy Young. Why doesn’t this guy get more fanfare? He’s been as dominant as any pitcher in the game this season, he’s held opponents to a .214 average while walking just 50 guys (and striking out 222) in 205.2 innings. He’s become the perfect storm, a power pitcher who also goes deep in games and doesn’t walk people.

Since the All-Star break, Kershaw is a whopping 8-1 with a 1.44 ERA over 10 starts. He’s been ever better than that against the Giants this season, going 3-0 over four outings with a 1.35 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

The other story to watch for L.A on Friday: Matt Kemp. Not only is the outfielder pushing hard for NL MVP honors with his .319-32-107 batting line, his 37 steals give him a shot to become baseball’s fifth ever 40/40 man.

San Francisco Giants (75-68 through September 7)
Tim Lincecum (12-12, 2.75)

A lot can happen in September but the Giants sure are on the ropes, seven games back of Arizona in the NL West through Wednesday. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

The pitching hasn’t faltered but they’ve hit as poorly as any team in baseball. They never recovered from Buster Posey’s broken leg and Carlos Beltran simply hasn’t provided the offensive spark he was supposed to.

At least the Giants’ pitching still gives them a chance to win every night. Tim Lincecum’s stat line reads like Felix Hernandez’s from last season: great overall numbers without the wins. He hasn’t had run support.

In an eight-start stretch from July 15 to August 24, he allowed two or fewer runs in eight straight starts – yet he lost three of those outings.

MLB Trends

LA are 13-3 in their last 16 overall.
LA are 13-3 in their last 16 games on grass.
LA are 8-2 in their last 10 road games.
Over is 7-2 in SF last 9 games following an off day.
Over is 7-3 in SF last 10 overall.
Over is 7-3 in SF last 10 on grass.
SF are 8-3 in Lincecums last 11 starts vs. LA.

MLB Free pick:

As great as Lincecum is, he’s slumping, having allowed nine runs in 11 innings over his last two starts (both losses). Kershaw looks unstoppable right now and gets to face a quad-A lineup. He should breeze again.

Dodgers vs Giants pick: Dodgers 3, Giants 1

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By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.