The D'backs came from behind in Friday’s 5-3 victory against the Dodgers, lighting up starter Clayton Kershaw for all five runs in the sixth inning. Arizona’s Aaron Hill went 3-for-4 while Justin Upton poked a two-run triple. What should MLB bettors look for today?
Joe Freda’s 2012 MLB Record: 34-33-1 (+0.14 ROI)
Saturday night’s rematch has both clubs sending right-handed hurlers to the hill, with Arizona’s Trevor Cahill (6-7, 3.63 ERA) opposing Los Angeles’ Chad Billingsley (4-8, 4.20 ERA). MLB odds makers opened Cahill as a 165 favorite, while first setting the ‘total’ at a flat 8 ½.
Cahill goes six in defeatCahill logged a second straight loss in Monday’s 6-2 setback for Arizona as a 162 home favorite against the San Diego Padres. The 24-year-old gave up two earned runs over six innings, while allowing two homers as part of seven hits.
Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young drilled a solo shot for one of his squad’s pair of runs, finishing 1-for-4. Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt and Gerardo Parra united to hit 4-for-7, with Goldschmidt poking his 22nd double of the year.
The contest’s eight runs ducked below the ‘total’ of nine, brining the UNDER to 4-3 in Cahill’s last seven starts. Diamondbacks mates Justin Upton and Miguel Montero were held to a combined 0-for-8, leaving six men on base.
Billingsley continues slideBillingsley picked up a fourth straight losing decision in Monday’s 8-2 defeat for Los Angeles as a minus 114 home choice against the Cincinnati Reds. The seventh-year hurler allowed three runs on eight hits, while logging eight strikeouts over six innings.
Dodgers mates Jerry Hairston and Luis Cruz drove in one run each, with Hairston cracking his third homer of the year in a 1-for-4 night. Los Angeles’ Elian Herrera and A.J. Ellis both went 0-for-4 from the lineup’s top two spots, combining for five strikeouts.
The battle’s 10 runs leaped above the ‘total,’ lifting the OVER to 12-2-1 in Billingsley’s last 15 outings. Dodgers relievers Todd Coffey and Jamey Wright gave up Cincinnati’s final five runs, allowing two hits each over the eighth and ninth inning.
Back the UNDER in ArizonaSaturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. (ET).
Los Angeles’ injuries have been mounting with shortstop Dee Gordon joining Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp on the team’s disabled list, while mate Juan Uribe missed Friday’s affair with an ankle injury and is “questionable” to return here.
I am backing the UNDER in this battle as part of my MLB picks for the night’s betting action, looking for the octane to stay low enough between these rivals.
Cahill gave up just one run over six innings in May’s home contest against the Dodgers, who were more loaded then with Ethier still in the lineup. The California native has held Dodgers veteran Bobby Abreu to a 4-for-23 lifetime mark, while mates Adam Kennedy and Juan Rivera have combined to hit a sparse 2-for-25.
Billingsley tends to be part of explosive battles, but has been stingy over the last two seasons at Chase Field. The 27-year-old has allowed a tight seven earned runs over his last four road starts against the Diamondbacks, stretching 24 1/3 IP.
Arizona’s Justin Upton has just one homer in 42 lifetime at-bat’s against Billingsley, while Chris Young comes into the matchup hitting a cold 1-for-22 in his last seven games. Los Angeles’ bats showed some life in Friday’s triumph, but look for the surge to cool off with the UNDER going 6-0-1 in the team’s last seven spots taking place in a series’ third game.
The Diamondbacks have seen the UNDER cash at 4-1 in their last five games as a favorite of 150 or more, while going 6-2 in Cahill’s last eight starts against National League West foes.
Look for the UNDER to collect again here, adding to the 7-3-1 clip for the wager in Los Angeles’ last 11 road dates.