The San Francisco Giants close out their current six game home stand tonight with a series finale against NL West rival Los Angeles. The two clubs, which will be facing each other for the seventh time this season, split the first two games of the series, the Dodgers taking the opener 6-1 followed the Giants 5-4 win last night. This evening's rubber match is scheduled for a 10:15pm ET start at AT&T Park. MLB Odds & Predictions have San Francisco listed as a -150 moneyline favorite and the Over/Under set at seven.
Tonight's game features a battle of left handers as Ted Lilly gets the start for the Dodgers and Jonathan Sanchez takes the
hill for San Francisco. Each pitcher will be making his third appearance of the season when they step on the field for this evening's rivalry tilt.
Sanchez has been the superior performer thus far, giving up 11 hits and three earned runs while striking out 15 in 10.2 innings of work. The Giants, despite his efforts, are 1-1 in his two starts, losing to the Dodgers 3-4 on April 1st before knocking off the Cardinals 5-4 last Friday.
Sanchez is is 2-6 with a 4.68 ERA in 16 career appearances against the Dodgers, but he has averaged an impressive 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings when facing L.A.
Lilly, a 12 year veteran out of Torrance, California, is 0-1 this season with a 6.00 ERA. Lilly got battered for six hits and four earned runs (4.2 innings) by the Giants in his first start of the season, a game the Dodgers lost 0-10. He performed better in his second outing, allowing seven hits and two earned runs in a 4-2 win at San Diego.
Lilly has never been at his best when matched up with the Giants as evidenced by his career 5.79 ERA against them. In eight starts opposite San Francisco Lilly has yielded 53 hits and 30 earned runs in just over 46 innings of work.
Los Angeles has taken four of the six games between these two familiar foes this season; however, the Giants have won six of the last seven at AT&T Park.
Dodgers vs Giants MLB Odds & Predictions April 14th, 2011:
Los Angeles Dodgers +1.5 (-170), Over 7 (-115), +130 (Moneyline)
San Francisco Giants -1.5 (+150), Under 7 (-105), -150 (Moneyline)
