Friday's Best MLB Bets
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants (-122, 5.5)
The Dodgers are playing terrific baseball. They’ve won 13 out of 16 after taking the opener of a scheduled doubleheader 7-4 in Washington on Thursday. (The nightcap was rained out).
L.A. will send ace Clayton Kershaw against San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum on Friday.
While the Giants are 8-3 in Lincecum’s last 11 starts against the Dodgers, he hasn’t been dominant lately. Lincecum is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA over his last three starts.
Kershaw, on the other hand, has given up four earned runs over his last five starts.
The Dodgers are 6-1 in their last seven games as an underdog. The Giants have dropped five of their last seven home games.
Pick: Dodgers
Houston Astros at Washington Nationals (-103, 8.5)
The reeling Nationals will give a second start on Friday to Tom Milone, who was called up from the minors a week ago.
In Milone’s first start, he gave up four earned runs and six hits to the Mets over 4 1/3 innings.
Washington has lost 12 of 15 overall, and six of its last eight home games.
Houston’s Bud Norris has a more than respectable 3.83 ERA. In his only career start against the Nationals, Norris allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Pick: Astros
Friday's Streaking and Slumping Starting Pitchers
STREAKERS
Edwin Jackson, St. Louis Cardinals (11-9, 3.78 ERA)
The midseason acquisition has been brilliant over his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA. In fact, he’s given up two earned runs or less in five of his previous six starts. Jackson fanned eight Reds in seven innings last time out.
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (17-5, 2.45)
The 23-year-old lefty is coming off a tough loss in Atlanta, but over his last five starts he’s allowed just four earned runs. Batters are hitting .214 against Kershaw, who ranks second in the NL in ERA.
SLUMPERS
John Lackey, Boston Red Sox (12-11, 6.11 ERA)
Batters are hitting .302 against Lackey, who’s given up 14 earned runs over his last three starts covering 18 2/3 innings. He’s lost three of his last four decisions. At least he won't have to face the Rangers again until possibly the playoffs.
Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays (4-8, 4.60 ERA)
The 25-year-old lefty has been battered for 13 earned runs in his last three starts covering 18 1/3 innings. Toronto has lost his last four starts, and six of the last seven. Cecil has given up at least one homer in 14 of his 17 starts this year.