The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for answers just after losing 2-of-3 games to the Colorado Rockies and must find them quickly as the leagues best team, the Chicago Cubs invade Chavez Ravine for a four-game series beginning tonight (10:10 p.m. ET) at Dodger Stadium. RHP Chad Billingsley (4-6, 3.29 ERA) will toe the rubber for LA while the Cubs look to RHP Ryan Dempster (7-2, 2.75 ERA) to counter. MLB Betting oddsmakers at Bodog (Bodoglife.com) currently have the Dodgers listed as 134-moneyline favorites versus the Cubs, while the game's total is sitting at 7½.
Don't be surprised to see Ryan Dempster exit early, even if he's pitching OK. He threw four straight outings of 109 pitches or more before his last start, when he only tallied 93. Lou Piniella said he hopes to keep the converted closer on a leash for one more outing. Dempster is 7-0 at Wrigley Field but 0-2 on the road.
Chad Billingsley continued his fine work, shutting out the Mets for seven innings, only for the bullpen to let another win get away. He has a 1.53 ERA over his last seven starts, six of them having allowed one run or none with at least six innings. He's pitching confidently and aggressively and still has a knack for escaping jams with runners in scoring position, which he did in five innings against the Mets.
The Cubs lost 2-1 and failed to complete a three-game sweep of the Padres last time out, as -120 favorites. The three runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (8).
Ryan Theriot went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Cubs. Ted Lilly suffered the loss, allowing both runs over 7 1-3 innings of work.
The Dodgers dropped the rubber match 2-1 to the Rockies at home as a -140 favorite on Wednesday. The three runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (8).
Matt Kemp drove in the lone run for the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw gave up both runs and was tagged with the loss.
Point-Spreads.com MLB Betting pick: Dodgers will rise to the challenge after getting embarrassed by Colorado….Dodgers ML -134.
