When the 2011 Major League Baseball season began at the end of March, the Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League West Division were not not included in any championship discussion among betting oddsmakers. No, out west the San Francisco Giants were the projected champions while Arizona was sort of – out of sight and out of mind. With two months of the season in the history books, the Diamondbacks have shown the baseball world how they are worth talking about. Arizona has won six straight games and nine of its last 10 and is now on top of the NL West by a half game over San Francisco.
On Memorial Day, the Diamondbacks return home to Chase Field for a series with the Marlins following their successful road trip through Colorado and Houston where they won six of seven games including a sweep of the Astro's at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Arizona is -135 MLB Odds favorite to win the three game set.
Looking to extend its winning streak to seven, the D-Backs pin Monday's hopes on left-hander Joe Saunders while the Marlins counter with right-hander Chris Volstad. With Saunders and Volstad listed as starters, oddsmakers list Arizona as -127 favorites on the MLB Odds moneyline with a posted 9 1/2-run total. As underdogs, Marlins backers are getting +117 ML odds.
If Saunders has as quality of outing as his last start the Marlins could be in trouble. The Arizona lefty fired eight innings of two-run ball at Colorado on Tuesday when he scattered six hits and struck out four while getting credited with his first win. For most of the season Saunders has found getting wins to be difficult. After 10 starts, he only has one win to show for it but in several starts he was not part of the decision.
Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad tossed six innings of two-run ball, allowed six hits and two walks and recorded six strikeouts in no-decision against the Giants on Wednesday. For the season Volstad is 2-3 after nine starts where his ERA is high at 5.40.
MLB Picks – Both Florida and Arizona are playing good baseball and are in the thick of their individual divisions race. I give Arizona a bit of a MLB Odds SU edge since they're at home but the game is a toss-up in my mind. The best value wager with Volstad and Saunders pitching is an OVER on the posted 9 1/2-total.
