MLB Predictions Preview …The Manny Rameriz tour continues Friday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to San Francisco for a weekend-series with rivals San Francisco Giants. Rameriz is doing what was expected and that is to drive in runs. Right hander Brad Penny will take the mound in Friday’s game, his first start since coming off the disabled list. Penny is 5-9 this season with a 5.88 ERA. The Giants will counter with left hander Barry Zito who has a 6-13 record and a 5.40 ERA.
MLB Predictions Betting Line… Online sports gaming leader Sportsbook.com has the Dodgers listed as -126 money line favorites with an 8.5 total. The Giants are getting +116 money line odds as a home underdog.
Penny is scheduled to return from the disabled list to make his first start since June 14, after which he went on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. The big right-hander came away fine from Saturday's Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Las Vegas in which he allowed four runs on six hits, reaching 98 mph with his fastball. Manager Joe Torre said Penny could throw around 90 pitches in this outing. Penny had lost seven straight decisions before being placed on the DL, going winless since May 2.
Zito looked like the Zito of old in his last start against the San Diego Padres on August 2, going eight shutout innings while allowing only three hits and giving up four walks while striking out five. Zito threw 116 pitches and outdueled the Padresʼ Jake Peavy in a battle of former Cy Young Award winners. It was a game that showed that Zito could still be the Cy Young Award-winning Zito and not the Zito who is currently 6-13 on the season. He pitched out of jams and didn't allow the Padres to get into any sort of offensive rhythm.
The Dodgers came through in the series finale with a 4-1 win over the Cardinals on Thursday, as +120 underdogs. The five runs fell UNDER the day's posted over/under (8.5).
Manny Ramirez belted a two-run homer for his 24th in leading the Dodgers. Clayton Kershaw tossed a three-hitter through seven innings to pick up the win.
Aaron Rowand drove in all three runs on Wednesday, leading the Giants to a 3-2 win over the Braves. The Giants won the game as -175 underdogs, while the five runs fell UNDER the posted over/under (7).
Rowand belted a two-run homer and hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the other run. Tim Lincecum tossed eight innings for the win, striking out eight and Brian Wilson turned in a perfect ninth for his 32nd save.
