MLB Baseball
2012-04-05 - LA Dodgers at San Diego Padres
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Thursday 5 April 2012 - First Pitch 7:05pm ET
12:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The new season begins for the LA Dodgers and it has been all change in the off-season as Magic Johnson was the face of consortium that purchased the franchise for an eye-watering 2 billion dollars.
They will send the reigning National League Cy Young winner, Clayton Kershaw, to the mound, a pitcher that lead his Conference in terms of strikeouts and ERA, while also tying for a National League high of 21 wins recorded in 2011.
It is clear that Kershaw is held in high regard at Dodger Stadium and Don Mattingly is trying to keep the pressure off his ace pitcher by tempering expectations coming into the new season. Mattingly has made it clear that Kershaw can only do his part to the best of his ability and pitch well, and then hope the batting line up gives him the run support he needs.
LA finished with a winning record last season, although the uncertainty surrounding their ownership has meant they have not brought in the players they need just yet. However, there are more positives than negatives entering the 2012 season.
San Diego are looking to improve on their 71-91 record from last season, but they know it is going to be a slow turnaround as they made a number of moves in the off-season to improve their team. One of those moves was bringing in Edinson Volquez from the Cincinnati Reds as part of a trade and it is he who will be sent to the mound of the opening day.
Volquez finished with a 5-7 record last season from 20 starts for the Reds and he had a 5.71 ERA. He will be used to the pressure of pitching on the opening day as he did the same for Cincinnati last season and he is looking to the form that saw him reach 17 wins in 2008.
Head to Head
The Dodgers won the season series between the two teams 13-5 last season, going 10-2 in the final 12 games between them.
They finished 6-3 in games played in San Diego.
The Dodgers won all 3 games against the Padres that Clayton Kershaw started.
Other Interesting Trends
San Diego are just 8-23 in their last 31 games as the home underdog.
They are 6-14 in their last 20 Game 1's of a series.
LA are 21-6 in their last 27 games as the favourite and with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
They are 26-8 in their last 34 games as the favourite.
Prediction
I am going to back the LA Dodgers to give Clayton Kershaw the run support he will need and win this game on the run line for the following reasons:
First, all 3 games Kershaw started against San Diego last season saw the Dodgers win by 2 runs or more.
Second, the Dodgers have dominated this series between the two teams last season and will be boosted by their recent takeover to start well on opening day.
Third, San Diego have struggled with left-handed starters, going just 1-10 in their last 11 against such pitchers.
The Pick :
San Diego Padres 2-6 LA Dodgers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the LA Dodgers - 1.5 Runs @ 2.18
