MLB: Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Game-day: 8/6/2009
First-pitch: 10:10 pm EST
The Los Angeles Dodgers survived the Prince Fielder “scare” last night, but didn’t win the game. All of the talk on L.A. sports radio yesterday was about how the Dodgers, ranked 2nd in the MLB Power Rankings (link to power rankings article), were going to get into a brawl with the Brewers because of the events of Tuesday night. Nothing happened except for a Dodger loss, but L.A. is always a city that moves on quickly.
They will do again on Thursday night when they send pitcher Randy Wolf to the mound. Wolf has become the ace in the Dodgers’ rotation even though Wolf is 5 and 6 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
The Braves counter with L.A.’s number one guy last year, Derek Lowe. Lowe is 11 and 7 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP in 2009.
Here is the BetUS
online sportsbook betting line for this game.
Atlanta BravesDerek Lowe – R +1 ½ -170 +120 O 8½ EvLos Angeles DodgersRandy Wolf – L -1 ½ +150 -140 U 78½ -120 Here are a few online wagering trends for this game.
The Atlanta Braves are 5 and 0 in Derek Lowe’s last 5 starts.
The Atlanta Braves are 1 and 5 in their last 6 games after a victory.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 12 and 3 in Randy Wolf’s last 15 starts as a favorite at home.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 8 and 3 in Randy Wolf’s last 8 starts as the favorite.
This game is going to come down to which pitcher is throwing the best on the mound. Lowe can be downright awesome if is stuff is going, but so can Wolf.
Both guys are decent pitchers although neither one is having a stellar 2009. The last time these two pitchers faced each other, Lowe won the semi-duel 4 to 3.
The same thing can happen on Thursday night because Lowe knows Dodger Stadium well, but I’m going to take a big swing on L.A. in this game. Not only am I going to bet that they put away the bad taste in their mouth regarding last night’s game, but that they do it in style.
The Dodgers are a losing proposition in 2009 on the run line, but I’ll be them on the run line in this game. I’m going with Randy Wolf and the L.A. Dodgers at -1 ½ +150 to beat Derek Lowe and the Atlanta Braves.