ODDS ANALYSIS
While the Dodgers revel in their three-game sweep of Arizona, enjoy an off-day Thursday and make the short trip down I-5 to San Diego, the Padres finish up a seven-game road trip Thursday with an afternoon contest in Atlanta.
The Dodgers completed their sweep of the Dbacks with a walk-off 7-6 win on Wednesday and have dominated their neighbors from the south, winning six of nine meetings with San Diego this season up 2.39 units in those games. LA has rallied behind ace Clayton Kershaw winning five of his last six starts with the over going 4-2 in that span. The Dodgers are a weak team on the road going just 10-15 in the red 8.39 units, but they won two of three at Petco Park in late April.
San Diego ranks in the top third in the Majors in runs scored despite being shutout 10 times and is a strong play on the over, going 11-2-1 in 14 games, and that’s after they played below the scoreline in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss at Atlanta. The over is 6-0-1 in San Diego’s last seven home games, however the under was 2-1 in the series at Petco Park in April.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.36 ERA) was dominant against his postseason nemesis, yielding one hit and two walks with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 win over the Cardinals on Saturday. He’s picked up a win in four of his last five starts and has rounded into form after a rocky start to 2015. He’s allowed just two runs in his last 22 innings and struck out 28 in that span.
Kershaw gave up six hits and three runs taking a no-decision in an Opening Night Dodgers victory over San Diego. He’s 4-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in nine career starts at Petco Park where the Padres hit just .194 against him.
Odrisamer Despaigne (3-4, 4.72 ERA) gave up four runs in six innings and took the loss Sunday at Cincinnati. The damage came on a pair of Jay Bruce home runs among the nine hits allowed. He’s pitched better lately with a 2.42 ERA over his last four starts.
Despaigne pitched a perfect inning in relief against LA on Apr. 25 and will make his third career start and first at home against them. He gave up eight earned runs on 15 hits over 11.1 innings in two starts at Dodger Stadium last season.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I was just throwing strikes and hoping for the best. I just executed some fastballs away that were pretty well located and tough to put a bat on. This was probably the best slider-curveball combination I’ve had in a while, so tonight I felt like I could use both – which helped.” – Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw after allowing one hit with 11 strikeouts in a win over St. Louis on Saturday.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Padres tried to upgrade their lineup in the offseason, acquiring outfielders Justin Upton and Matt Kemp, third baseman Will Middlebrooks and catcher Derek Norris. One area they didn’t address that has haunted them from the beginning of the season is the middle infield. The club rolled out a barrel full of money to second baseman Jedd Gyorko last April after a decent rookie season in 2013 and he repaid them by hitting a whopping .210 last season and was stuck on the same number in 119 at-bats this year. He was demoted to Triple-A with hopes he can work out his issues in the upper minors. That leaves Cory Spangenberg and Yangervis Solarte as second base options with Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes at shortstop. The move emphasizes the Padres’ middle infield woes with both positions at, or just below, replacement level thus far.
PROP TALK
Yasiel Puig has displayed zero rust since his activation off the disabled list, collecting nine hits in 15 at-bats with two doubles, a home run, five runs scored and four RBIs in four games. He punctuated his return with a 4-for-4 night against Arizona on Wednesday with a three-run home run raising his average to .362. The eccentric Cuban hasn’t done well at Petco with a lifetime .172 average in 58 at-bats there, but will face fellow countryman Odrisamer Despaigne, who he hits .400 off. The two face each other for the first time in San Diego and the well-rested Puig, who’s played just 15 games this season, gets the better of his Cuban counterpart..
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Clayton Kershaw is coming off his most dominant outing of the season and the Padres have been blanked a MLB-high 10 times. Doesn’t look good for the Friars in this one considering the success Kershaw has had against them. San Diego has been a disappointment this season, considering all the off-season moves they made to improve the club. Former Dodger Matt Kemp saw his average dip below .250 validating the Dodgers move to trade him freeing up outfield space for rookie Joc Pederson. Kemp has hit LA though, with 12 hits this season, including two off Kershaw on Opening Day. The Padres won’t have enough against the MVP and Cy Young winner however.
Los Angeles 5, San Diego 2
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Since this game can be seen by anyone with a TV, BookMaker will have a multitude of wagering options available for it. Outside of the normal lines, you can gamble on real-time moneylines, player props and inning totals. Live betting is open during every commercial break!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the San Diego Padres will commence Friday, June 12, 2015, at 10:10 p.m. ET at PETCO Park. The matchup can be seen live on FSSD and SNLA.
