The Los Angeles Dodgers (51-39 SU, -8.47 Units) might have one of the best teams in baseball, but they have a real problem playing on the road this year. They enter this weekend's series against the Washington Nationals (48-39 SU, +0.10 Units) with just an 18-22 record on the road, a mark they will look to improve on Saturday.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Saturday would have logically been Zack Greinke's game to pitch, but Don Mattingly wants to break up his two aces from one another.
Mike Bolsinger will get the nod instead of Saturday, and he makes for an intriguing option for live bettors to keep an eye on.
Let's get one thing clear about Bolsinger: He isn't throwing 100 pitches, and if he does, he has either been really good, or Mattingly is off of his rocker.
Bolsinger has been your typical pitcher this year. His first time through the lineup, men are batting under .220 against him, but his splits get worse and worse as you go through the order.
Live bettors should be ready to pull the trigger against LA in this one when Bolsinger starts getting up into that 60-70 pitch range, knowing that it could be all downhill from there against a lineup chock full of power.
Matt Williams still hasn't announced his rotation for the second half yet, but one could assume that Gio Gonzalez will get the call at some point in this series. Gonzalez was pitching right after Max Scherzer just before the break, and Scherzer figures to throw at his first chance on Friday.
Gonzalez, if he is the one to go, is the only loose cannon we are really afraid of on this staff. There's no doubt that his stuff has been great, but live bettors know when he is off, he is really off. Since May 13, Gonzalez has allowed at least four runs four times and two runs or fewer six times with literally nothing in the middle. You're either going to get good Gio or bad Gio, and there is no rhyme or reason as to why either one surfaces.
ADVANCED STATS
The Dodgers might have some of the most impressive offensive stats in the league, but the one thing they don't have is a lot of luck against lefties.
LA is batting .246 as a club against southpaws this year, and its home run rate of 2.5 percent against lefties is way off of its 4.2 percent mark against righties.
If the Dodgers don't have power, they don't have much in the way of offense. They rank No. 3 in the majors in homers with 113, but they only rank No. 16 in offensive production at 4.18 runs per game due to the fact that they are hitting just .252 as a team.
TALKING BULLPENS
So much attention has been given to the Washington starting pitchers that th relievers aren't talked about all that often. Quietly, Drew Storen went 27-of-29 in the first half in save chances, and he posted a 1.89 ERA.
The Nats don't have a lot of those flame throwers out of the bullpen, and Storen, though a very good pitcher, isn't one of those either.
Still, it's really tough to argue with Washington's depth in its bullpen. The team can trot out there David Carpenter, Storen, Matt Thornton, Felipe Rivero and Blake Treinen, and you can have confidence in each of these men. All have ERAs of 3.50 or better, and each have been very good at times in high leverage situations.
The baseball betting odds for this game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers and adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in, and start gambling during the game now!
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