MLB Predictions Preview …The Arizona Diamondbacks will send ace left hander Randy Johnson to the mound today at AT&T Park in San Francisco looking to pick up a road win and series sweep to maintain the clubs standing alone atop the NL West. Johnson is 7-7 this season with a 4.89 ERA. The Giants will counter Johnson with Barry Zito. Righthander Zito has a 5.56 ERA to go along with a 5-12 record this season.
MLB Predictions Betting Line … Oddsmakers at online sportsbook SBGglobal.com have the Diamondbacks listed as -138 money line favorites with an 8-run total. The Giants are getting +118 money line odds as a home underdog.
Johnson certainly hasn't looked like a 44-year-old on the mound in his last three starts. After going winless in his previous eight starts, Johnson regained his dominant form, winning his last three starts, allowing just five runs on 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The last time out, the Big Unit won career game No. 291, as he shut out the Cubs for seven innings. Against the Giants, Johnson has two no-decisions on the season, despite allowing just two earned runs.
Zito has won his last two decisions, including a three-run, six-inning effort last Tuesday against Washington. This is consistent with his pattern of strong second halves. Entering this year, Zito had gone 64-31 with a 3.36 ERA after the All-Star break. He's also 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA in his last five starts. Zito has faced the Diamondbacks three times this season, losing twice and recording a 6.32 ERA, although two of those efforts were quality starts.
The Diamondbacks rallied for three runs in the eighth inning on Saturday to defeat the Giants 5-3 as -115 favorites. The eight runs made it OVER the posted over (6.5).
Chris Snyder went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs for the Diamondbacks. Brandon Webb allowed just three runs off four hits over seven innings in the win.
Aaron Rowand had two hits and drove in two runs in a losing effort for the Giants, who were +105 underdogs in that game. Tyler Walker gave up three runs in relief to suffer the loss.
MLB Game Prediction … Barry Zito seems to be finding his groove and it’s about time. We like the Giants to avoid the sweep at home and get Zito a win. Take the Giants getting the juice as a home dog…+118 ml.
