Boston (Lowe) @ Los Angeles (Daal)
Well the Dodgers came away with one last night, but I don't see that happening again today with Lowe on the mound.
Boston sends Derek Lowe to the mound who has been one of the best pitchers in the Major Leagues this year, he has an 11-2 record with an ERA of 1.85 and a very solid WHIP of 0.87 in his last 3 starts he has gone 3-0 with an impressive 1.42 ERA and an even more impressive WHIP of 0.95. He is a very solid 6-0 on the road with an ERA of 1.91 and a WHIP of 09.36. This is his first start against the Dodgers.
LA counters with Omar Daal who has not exactly been lighting it up he has a 2-3 record on the year with an ERA of 6.83 and a WHIP of 1.448, he has really been lit up in his last 3 starts going 0-3 with an inflated ERA of 11.57 and a WHIP of 1.90. He has one start against the Red Sox last year pitching 7 innings giving up 0 earned runs when with the Phillies.
The Boston offense seems to like left-handed starters as they have a 13-4 record against them averaging 4.8 runs a game and are batting a very solid .300 against them in their last 10 games. Defensively they are only allowing 3.3 runs a game and keeping their opponents to a very solid on base percentage of .302, the bullpen has been solid on the road with an ERA of 3.43 and a WHIP of 1.227.
The Dodgers are 28-25 against right-handed starters averaging 3.7 runs a game while batting .245 as a team against them while holding their opponents to 3.5. The bullpen has been very solid at home with an ERA of 3.00 and a WHIP of 1.000.
Home plate umpire Kerwin Danley tends to favor the visiting team with them going 5-8 when he is making the calls, he has a strike out to walk ratio of 2.06 and has called 4 overs and 7 unders.
Bottom line is that we get the much better pitcher with Lowe and the best road team in baseball off a tough loss last night. Daal pitched well against the Sox last year while he was with the Phillies but this is no where near the same team he is facing today. So I will take a pitcher like Lowe at this price all day.
Playing Boston -160