Sunday Night ESPN MLB Baseball Picks: Giants vs Dodgers
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Sunday Night Baseball Betting: Giants vs Dodgers Preview & Pick
Date: Sunday, April 3, 2011
Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast: ESPN2
San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Lines from Betus.com
Money Line: OFF
Over/Under: OFF
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San Francisco Giants
Barry Zito (2010: 9-14, 4.15 ERA)
Believe it or not, Barry Zito is slated to start for the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. The same Barry Zito who was hospitalized earlier this week after a major car accident. Apparently, he’s fine and ready to go. He’s 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA in nine career trips to Dodger Stadium.
Zito will have to watch out for a few Dodger regulars who really have his number, however. Matt Kemp is a .419 career hitter against him; Rod Barajas bats .314 with three homers over 35 at-bats against him.
Zito will hope he gets improved run support from a Giants team that struggled to solve Clayton Kershaw in the opener. The only guy to connect was Pat Burrell, who took Jonathan Broxton deep in the ninth. He’ll need guys like reigning National League Rookie of the Year Buster Posey to step up.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Hiroki Kuroda (2010: 11-13, 3.39)
While he hasn’t dazzled like the former Japanese phenom, Hideo Nomo, over his first few seasons, Hiroki Kuroda hasn’t been half bad for the Dodgers. His 3.60 ERA and 1.18 WHIP suggest he deserves better than a 28-30 record over that span. Kuroda keeps the ball in the park reasonably well and he doesn’t walk anyone.
Like Zito against L.A., Kuroda has been solid if unspectacular in his career against the division rival Giants, going 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA over seven starts. 
MLB Trends:
SF are 8-1 in their last 9 Sun. games.
Under is 5-1-2 in SF last 8 road games.
SF are 18-8 in their last 26 road games.
Under is 6-2-1 in LA last 9 home games.
LA are 2-6 in their last 8 Sun. games.
Over is 5-2-2 in LA last 9 Sun. games.
Under is 12-1-3 in Zitos last 16 starts vs. LA.
Under is 7-3-1 in the last 11 meetings.
The pick: Both Zito and Kuroda seem pretty tidy on paper. Each guy is comfortable enough in Dodgers Stadium; each guy has been reasonably successful against the opposing club in his career. Time to pull the intangibles card. Have you ever been in a car accident? It jars your body and leaves you feeling generally sore and “off” for days. I can’t imagine Zito bouncing back to be in top form on Sunday.
If there’s an X-factor for the Dodgers against Zito, I fully expect it to be Matt Kemp. He’s been successful against Zito in the past and his strong season debut (1 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 SB) suggests he could be in midseason form already. Go with the home team.
Giants vs Dodgers prediction: Dodgers 5, Giants 3
