ODDS ANALYSIS
The top two teams in the National League meet for a three-game set when the West leading Dodgers visit the Central front-running Cardinals. The Dodgers are in search of some payback after getting bounced from the postseason by St. Louis in each of the last two seasons.
The Dodgers completed a stretch where they played 13 of 16 at home with a loss to the Braves on Wednesday and haven’t played outside the state of California in nearly three weeks. Their only road trip during that span was a visit to San Francisco where they were blanked in three straight games and the Dodgers haven’t scored a run in a road game since May 10. The Dodgers cashed the under seven times in their last 10 games and the under is 3-1 in Mike Bolsinger’s four starts. The under looks like the smart play in this one.
There’s just something magical about the Cardinals. They completed a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks rallying for two runs in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday for a 4-3 win, their fourth straight after dropping a season-high three in a row. The Cards are the most profitable team in the NL, in the black 13.48 units on the moneyline with the fewest home losses in baseball. The under is a strong play for the Cards, who have the best staff in baseball. The under is 5-1-1 in their last seven games and 26-19-2 overall.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Mike Bolsinger (3-0, 0.71 ERA) delivered eight shutout innings Saturday giving up only one hit with eight strikeouts in a win over the Padres. He hasn’t allowed more than one run in any of his four starts and has given up just four hits with 14 strikeouts over 14 scoreless innings in his last two turns.
Bolsinger makes his fifth start of the season and 14th career in his first appearance against the Cardinals.
John Lackey (2-3, 3.18 ERA) surrendered three runs on six hits over five innings in a rain-shortened loss to the Royals on Saturday. The Cards have lost each of his last three starts and Lackey should be well rested going on five days rest after consecutive starts of fewer than 80 pitches.
Lackey is 5-3 in 11 career games against LA with a sparkling 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 70 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I’m not sure how many curveballs he threw, but he threw a lot of them. He threw them at the top of the zone, he threw them at the bottom of the zone, threw them in and away. It was a ton of curveballs in good spots.” – Padres manager Bud Black after Brian Bolsinger blanked San Diego on one hit over eight innings Saturday
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Matt Holliday’s consistency reaching base has helped the Cardinals possess the best record in the majors. He became the first player in 16 years to get on base in 43 straight games to start a season with a hit and a walk Wednesday against Arizona. Holliday went 5 for 13 during the Dbacks series raising his average to .320 and coupled with his 28 walks, his on-base percentage of .433 ranks fifth in the National League. He kept his streak alive last weekend reaching base on an error and getting hit by a pitch in two games he failed to register a hit. Holliday, somehow or another, gets on base and look for his run to continue.
PROP TALK
The Dodgers showed signs of breaking out of a week-long hitting slump by scoring 14 runs against the Braves in the first two games of their series. Rookie center fielder Joc Pederson, who’s hit safely in eight of his last nine games, was partly responsible for the onslaught. Pederson had seven hits in 13 at-bats during the Atlanta series to lift his average to .263 and leads the club with 12 home runs. Pederson has never faced John Lackey, but he’s facing a number of hurlers for the first time and that hasn’t slowed him down. Watch for the rookie to spark LA’s offense in a win over the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Dodgers busted out of their run scoring slump against the Braves and will need the bats to stay hot as they face the best pitching staff in the majors. Adrian Gonzalez remains a force in the middle of the order and Joc Pederson, who leads the team in home runs, has done a nice job as the team’s new center fielder and leadoff hitter. Mike Bolsinger has been a find since being inserted into the starting rotation with season-ending injuries to Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-jin Ryu.
The Cardinals have been baseball’s model for consistency over the last 15 years combining great starting pitching and timely hitting. The rotation continues to be stellar despite the loss of Adam Wainwright and John Lackey mentoring youngsters Michael Wacha and Lance Lynn. The offense may have been dealt a blow when Matt Adams suffered a leg injury Tuesday. It was determined to be a significant quadriceps tear and he’ll be out for some time.
Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! First pitch for the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2015, at 8:15 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
