The Miami Marlins enter this four-game series with the San Diego Padres at just 40-55 with losses of 14.75 units for bettors. The big problem has been on the road, where they’re just 16-32 for the year, and it's tough to see how things are going to get better at Petco Park on Saturday night.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half of the year, the Padres had won five straight games to at least begin to think about making some headway in the NL West.
They've since been blown out by six runs twice in a row to the Giants at home, dropping to 44-51 and -6.17 units for the season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
It certainly feels like forever ago that Ian Kennedy was a 21-game winner for the Diamondbacks. His three years with the Padres haven't been good for sure, and this has been his worst of those seasons. The righty is just 5-9 with a woeful 4.78 ERA, and you have to go back to the middle of June to find his last truly good start.
David Phelps took a short trip to the bullpen for Miami, but is back in the team's rotation now and looking at least alright.
Phelps has allowed four runs over 11.2 innings in his last two starts, but he hasn't been efficient with his pitches at all, averaging over 16 pitches per inning in that stretch. The likelihood of him getting into the seventh is virtually nil.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Obviously, getting swept here is not exactly what we had in mind. Now it's up to us to have pride and continue on this road trip and take care of our business." – Marlins manager Dan Jennings following his team's unsightly sweep against Philadelphia to kick off the second half of the year
SITUATIONAL BETTING
The San Diego bullpen is worth keeping an eye on. There isn't a man in that pen with better than a 2.43 ERA, and with both Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel on the trading block, the Pads might have to dig deep to find late-inning help. Kevin Quackenbush makes a lot of sense, as he hasn't allowed a base runner in 3.2 consecutive innings, needing a total of just 49 pitches to get through that span.
PROP TALK
With Dee Gordon and Giancarlo Stanton both out of the fold, the Marlins have been atrocious offensively. Christian Yelich is about the only man we would count on right now. He's batting .355 in his last eight games, and though he only has one extra base hit in that stretch, at least he’s been getting aboard. That's more than we can say for many of these Marlins hitters.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Miami is in a world of hurt right now, and we don't think it's getting any better in this one.
Kennedy is the type of pitcher who is going to go out there and do his job. Sure, he'll allow three runs over five or six innings, but against Phelps and the Miami bullpen, that could be enough to hold a sizeable lead.
The Marlins don't have enough offense to keep up with the San Diego bullpen as long as the relievers aren't all moved before Saturday, and that will be their death in this game.
San Diego 5, Miami 3
The baseball betting odds for this Saturday game will first be available at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this televised baseball matchup. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, individual inning run totals and next hitter results. Log in and start gambling during the game now!
Need to fund your account before the big game but don't have your computer? No problem! BookMaker Sportsbook now offers a mobile betting cashier so you can deposit money directly from your smartphone or tablet. Don't miss out on getting paid because you couldn't bet. Click here and deposit at BookMaker now! The duel between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres will take place Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 8:40 p.m. ET at Petco Park in San Diego, CA. Catch the action live on the MLB Network.
