MLB Free Picks: Dodgers vs. Giants, Friday, September 9, 2011
By Anthony Rome
(The Spread) – One of the oldest rivalries in baseball will be renewed tonight in San Francisco when the Giants host the Dodgers at 10:15PM ET.
Odds: Oddsmkaers have installed the host Giants as –118 money line favorites versus the visiting Dodgers, who are +111 on the ML. The over/under total for this game is currently set at 5.5 runs, which is low but given the pitching matchup it makes sense.
Pitching Matchup: The Dodgers will send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound against the Giants’ best pitcher, Tim Lincecum. Kershaw is 17-5 with a 2.45 ERA and hasn’t lost a decision in his last five starts, while Lincecum is 12-12 on the year with a 2.75 ERA and has won just one outing in his last four starts.
Public Betting: Of the 2,300-plus wagers on tonight’s game, 59% of MLB public bettors currently favor the Dodgers +111. This information is subject to change, however, so make sure you click on the link provided for the most up-to-date public betting numbers.
MLB Free Pick: Take the Dodgers. If the Giants had any fight left in them, I would recommend taking them at tonight’s price (especially with Lincecum on the hill). But their offense is historically bad and they haven’t been able to score while facing below average arms, so what are they going to do against Kershaw? I don’t envision the Giants’ bats suddenly coming alive tonight. According to latest MLB trends, the Dodgers are 6-0 in their last six Friday night games and are 4-1 in Kershaw’s last five starts versus the Giants, who are 3-12 in their last 15 home games with the total set at 6.5 or lower. The Giants are also 2-12 in their last 14 during Game 1 of a series.
MLB FREE PICK: LOS ANGELES DODGERS +111