The Arizona Diamondbacks travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers in a three-game series beginning with a late afternoon Fourth of July (4:10 pm ET) opener at Miller Park. Both clubs are experiencing some success this season with Milwaukee a co-leader in the National League Central while Arizona is holding down second-place in the NL West. Both Milwaukee and Arizona have 45-40 records. Right-hander Shaun Marcum (7-3, 3.16 ERA) start for the Brewers today while Arizona counters with right-hander Daniel Hudson (9-5, 3.49 ERA).
Odds makers at offshore super-book BODOG.eu like Marcum and the Brewers in this one having them installed MLB Odds favorites at -134 on the money-line with a betting total (over/under) of 7.0. D-backs bettors will be getting +124 as road underdogs. Run-line prices on Milwaukee at -1 1/2 are +155 while Arizona, at +1 1/2, are priced at -175.
Hudson pitched well enough to win his last time out as he allowed two runs over eight innings to the Indians, but had to settle for a no-decision after J.J. Putz blew the save. Hudson has not lost since May 12, a span of nine starts.
Marcum was burned by a four-run fourth inning in his loss to the Yankees on Wednesday, but at least he felt healthy. Marcum had pitched only four total innings in his previous two starts because of a left hip injury.
Diamondbacks bettors will be happy to see their team get back to play a NL schedule because inter-league play was not kind. Arizona came up short most of the time as series losers to the White Sox, Tigers, Indians and Athletics. Their only successful series came at Kansas City where they swept a three game set. Inter-league play wasn't too kind for Milwaukee either as they've lost five of their last six games and allowed the Cardinals to catch them atop the the NL Central standings.
Series betting prices at some sports shops list the Brewers as -190 MLB Odds favorites to win the set with a combined total (over/under) for the series holding at 27 1/2. Arizona backers will be getting +155 series odds.
