The Los Angeles Dodgers were active at the trade deadline in an attempt to improve the back end of their rotation and to help with getting victories on the road. LA’s poor road showing doesn’t bode well for their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who boast one of the best home records in the majors and haven’t lost a series at PNC Park in over a month.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Dodgers won the last four games of their recent homestand hoping to translate that success to their current road trip. Los Angeles needs all the help it can get on the road and improved play away from Dodger Stadium could be the difference between winning the NL West, getting a wild card or missing the postseason entirely. The Dodgers haven’t been good to bettors, in the red 15.24 units on the moneyline in their away games and 9.2 units overall. They’ve played as the favorite in all but one game since the beginning of July. The Pirates enjoy having Francisco Liriano on the bump, winning each of his last six starts and five straight at PNC Park.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Mat Latos (4-7, 4.29 ERA) has to feel like he won the lottery, moving from the struggling Marlins to the first place Dodgers. He rewarded LA with a solid outing in his debut in blue Sunday, holding the Angels to one run on four hits over six innings in a no-decision. Since returning from a knee injury in mid-June, Latos has pitched well with a sub-3.00 ERA over 51.2 innings.
Latos looks to remain undefeated at PNC Park, where he’s 3-0 with a 2.87 ERA in six career starts. Overall he’s 5-1 with a 3.13 ERA against the Bucs.
Francisco Liriano (7-6, 2.92 ERA) had his last start washed out by rain after two innings, so he gets a mulligan in search of his fourth straight win. Despite his abbreviated outing, manager Clint Hurdle has decided to pitch Liriano on his normal four days rest. He’s 3-0 and the Bucs have won each of his last six starts.
The lefty is unbeaten in three career starts against the Dodgers – two coming last season – with an ERA of 1.37 and 20 strikeouts in 19.2 innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We made a decision to be a better defensive club this year. He’s a big part of that. At some point, if you hit .220 and you don’t hit homers, then there’s other things you try to do. You have to make organizational decisions. We all believe in Joc and what he’s going to be able to do.” – Dodgers manager Don Mattingly on the struggles of rookie Joc Pederson
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Dodgers are trying to hold down the fort at third base until Justin Turner returns to the lineup. Turner is eligible to come off the disabled list on Tuesday and Dodgers manager Don Mattingly can’t wait. When Turner was shelved by a skin infection, Mattingly said Alex Guerrero would get the bulk of playing time. Since then, Guerrero started four of five games and went 1 for 13 with a home run and six strikeouts. He was lifted for a pinch hitter after his third strikeout Tuesday and replaced in the starting lineup by Alberto Callaspo. Turner was batting .323 with 13 homers when he went on the DL, far superior to Guerrero’s .234 average and the .250 mark of Callaspo. It’s also possible Kike Hernandez, who’s batting .277 in limited playing time, could see some action at the hot corner.
PROP TALK
Though his numbers are down compared to last season, Andrew McCutchen is still having a terrific year. The former MVP still has time to improve on his numbers on he’s working at it. McCutchen slugged his 19th homer of the season in Wednesday’s win over the Cubs and has tagged Mat Latos for three long balls in his 22 career at-bats against the Dodgers righty. Cutch has six hits and four walks for a lofty 1.066 OPS while driving in four runs off Latos.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
It’s hard to know what we’re going to get from Liriano in this outing. His last start was washed out and he was scratched from his outing on July 18 with a sore neck. In two starts in between he surrendered 13 hits and four runs in 11.2 innings. The Dodgers are banking on Latos to improve the back end of their rotation behind aces Kershaw and Greinke, and he’s pitched like an ace since coming back from a knee injury. As long as LA can stay away from too many bullpen innings they have an opportunity to string some wins together with their rebuilt rotation.
Los Angeles 4, Pittsburgh 3
The MLB odds for this game will be available first at BookMaker Sportsbook. BookMaker is going to have multiple betting options available for this nationally-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!
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 Pittsburgh Pirates is scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 4:05 p.m. ET at PNC Park. The contest will be televised nationally on FS1.
