Only trailing the Phillies by half a game in the National League East standings, the Florida Marlins took advantage of a Tuesday Phillies loss by topping the Dodgers to move past the Phillies in the standings. In an early afternoon Wednesday matinee (12:10 pm ET), the Marlins will try to complete a series sweep of the Dodgers and in the process, put more distance from the Phillies who have the day off.
For today's game, the Marlins give the ball to right-hander Anibal Sanchez to start while the Dodgers counter with veteran right-hander Chad Billingsley. With Sanchez and Billingsley the starters, oddsmakers have installed Florida as -122 MLB Lines favorites with a 7 1/2 total. Dodgers backers are getting +102 ML odds as underdogs.
Sanchez who had a career year in 2010 with a 13-12 record and finishing the campaign with a 3.55 ERA. Currently his 2011 ERA is the same (.355) after four starts where the right-hander is 1-1. In his last start Sanchez flirted with a no-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing one hit and an unearned run, but still went the distance for a win.
Probably the Dodgers most consistent starting pitcher, Billingsley is currently 2-1 after five starts with a 4.13 ERA. Billingsley, coming off a 12-11 campaign in 2010, has pitched 28.1 frames allowing 14 runs (13 earned) on 28 hits, allowed two homeruns, walked 11 and struck out 27.
The Marlins picked up a 4-2 win on Tuesday, their second in two days versus LA, clinching the series. For the game, the Marlins covered as +120 moneyline underdogs while the game's six-run total went UNDER the posted 7 1/2. The win is the third straight for the Marlins while the Dodgers have lost two in a row.
For my daily MLB Picks , I look for the Dodgers to salvage one game of this series so I'm going with the veteran Billingsley to get it done from the mound. MLB Best Bet – Dodgers + 102.
