Sunday MLB Baseball Picks: Dodgers vs Angels
Personally, I think the Dodgers’ 36-46 record through June 30 is spot-on. This team has been overrated for a few seasons now. But the way in which L.A. is losing is a bit surprising.
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Sunday Night Baseball Betting – Dodgers vs Angels Preview & Pick
Date: Sunday, July 3, 2011
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
Broadcast: ESPN
Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Money Line: Angels -137
Over/Under: 7.5
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Los Angeles Dodgers (36-46)
Chad Billingsley (7-6, 4.22)
After Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, the Dodgers were expected to struggle offensively. But weren’t the Dodgers supposed to have one of the top five pitching rotations in baseball?
Clayton Kershaw is more than pulling his weight but most of the other Dodger starters have underachieved. That includes Chad Billingsley. Two or three years ago, he was an ace in the making. Now, he’s settled in as more of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. His walk rate is high, but that was always the case with him. The problem for Billingsley is that he’s become more hittable this season. Opponents are batting .276 off him, a big jump from the .244 mark he allowed the two previous seasons. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Billingsley is mediocre against the Angels, going 1-3 with a 4.28 career ERA, though he’s allowed just one career homer against them.
Los Angeles Angels (42-40)
Ervin Santana (3-8, 4.08)
With the Rangers leaving the door ajar in the American League West, the Angles are pouncing. They’ve won six of their last seven games thanks to a combination of timely hitting and, especially, dominant pitching from their starters.
Jered Weaver and Dan Haren get the glory but Ervin Santana hasn’t been half bad of late. He’s allowed two earned runs in three straight starts. He’s winless in his last six starts overall but he’s been a bit unlucky.
MLB Trends:
Over is 7-2 in LA last 9 road games.
Over is 7-2 in LA last 9 interleague road games.
LA are 8-19 in their last 27 interleague games.
LAA are 36-15 in their last 51 interleague games.
Under is 35-15-8 in LAA last 58 home games.
LA are 3-8 in the last 11 meetings.
MLB pick:
The reason why I like the Dodgers for this game: homers. Santana allows a whole lot of them. His 17 dingers allowed qualify as the second-highest total in the AL this season. At Angel Stadium, Santana has served 10 gopher balls in just 65 innings. He’s allowed two homers in six of his last 10 starts.
Dodger regulars Kemp, Ethier and Casey Blake all have homers off Santana in limited career action. I think they’ll get to him on Sunday Night Baseball.
Dodgers vs Angels prediction: Dodgers 5, Angels 2
