MLB Prediction Preview …The Los Angeles Dodgers have climbed to within a half-game of the NL Central lead and with a win tonight could find themselves the leader.Tonight the Dodgers will pin their hopes on the pitching of right hander Hiroki Kuroda in this game. Kuroda has a 6-8 record and a 4.21 ERA this season. Starting for the Giants will be Kevin Correia. The right hander has a 5.51 ERA to go along with a 2-6 record this season.
MLB Betting Line … Oddsmakers at online sportsbook SBGglobal.com currently have the Dodgers listed as -140 money line favorites versus the Giants, while the game's total is sitting at 8½. The Giants are getting +120 money line odds as a home underdog.
Kuroda rebounded after three consecutive poor starts coming out of the All-Star break to beat the Diamondbacks, although it didn't hurt to have the buzz of Manny Ramirez's first game as a Dodger for inspiration. Still, he allowed only one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. He was able to finish off breaking balls, which was a problem in the three previous starts.
Correia was solid in his last outing against the Padres on August 3, going 6 1/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts but ending up with a loss. The walks came back to bite him, as two of his walks were in a second inning that saw the Padres cross their first run across the plate. Two more walks loaded the bases for the Padres' second run of the game and the last run against Correia. Minus the walks, the game might have been different, as he continued to hold his own in a matchup that put him up against future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.
The Dodgers defeated San Francisco 6-2 as a -120 favorite on Friday. The eight runs scored caused this game to be a PUSH on the posted over/under total (8).
Jeff Kent had three RBI for the Dodgers, while Casey Blake and Danny Ardoin clubbed solo home runs in the win.
Bengie Molina homered and had two RBI for the Giants and Barry Zito gave up five runs in five innings to take the loss.
