It seems only fitting on the day of the biggest news story of the season, the team that will affected the most would lose their first home game of the season to the worst team in Major League baseball. Manny Ramirez was suspended 50-games by baseball for taking illegal substance and the Dodgers record setting home winning streak of 13 games came crashing down, but not because the offense failed, as they lost 11-9 to the Nationals.Ramirez is old news, as manager Joe Torre will have to play with the 25 players on the active roster and not be concerned about what he doesn’t have, as his club prepares for rival San Francisco. Undoubtedly, Los Angeles will miss Ramirez, but the team’s young players have paid attention to Manny’s positive habits and are second in the big leagues in runs scored and batting average. Being aggressive yet patient has really paid off for the Dodgers who have drawn the most walks in baseball coming into the series.
San Francisco has instituted its youth movement and the early results haven’t been bad in the win/loss column with 14-13 record. The Giants have survived to this point on pitching and barely enough hitting to have winning record. No matter how good the pitching is, at some point San Fran hitters are going to have to do better than being last in runs scored and 29th in on-base percentage (.306) if they expect to be .500 club on the season.
The Dodgers have mashed NL West rivals this season accounting for fast start with 19-6 record. They’ve opened with 4-2 record against the Giants in 2009 and will send ace Chad Billingsley (5-0, 2.21 ERA) to the rubber as he tries to become first six game winner in the National League. There were questions before the season if Billingsley was ready to assume the role of No.1 at the grand old age of 24. He’s embraced the position and has 42 strikeouts through 40 2/3 innings. The Dodgers are 18-3 in home games vs. a NL team with an on base percentage .315 or worse.
The Giants are +180 money line underdogs in the opener at DiamondSportsbook.com and will send Barry Zito (0-2, 3.99) to the mound. Zito has been one the biggest free agent flops in the last decade and started in much the same fashion this season, surrendering 10 runs in first nine innings of work. Since then he’s looked like the pitcher who used to wear Oakland uniform, allowing three runs in 20 1/3 innings (1.33). The only reason he hasn’t posted a win, is his teammates have tallied a grand total of three runs in those three starts. Interestingly, Zito and San Francisco are 7-2 in road games after a win over the last two seasons. If Zito pitches well again it might mean the Giants are starting to finally get some of their money’s worth from the left-hander. However, Billingsley has pitched well against the San Fran in his career, going 4-0 with a 3.21 ERA in eight starts.
Game 1 Edge: Los Angeles
San Francisco knows the Dodgers are not the same team without Manny but they understand this is still a talented club with ample firepower. “That team is very good," Giants catcher Bengie Molina said. "They have a lot of young guys who can hit and play the game. In a way, it'd be very unfair to say that they're going to be a less competitive team [without Ramirez]. I think they're going to keep battling and use this as motivation."
The Giants had won 11 of last 16 coming into the series, though dismal 4-9 on the road. They will present Jonathan Sanchez (1-2. 3.80) to L.A. The hard throwing lefty has low to mid 90’s heater with natural tailing movement away from RH hitters. Sanchez is prone to inconsistency and wildness, as noted by walking 18 batters in 21 1/3 innings so far in 2009. When he throws strikes and is around the plate, batters are hitting .188 against him.
The Dodgers counter with Eric Stults (3-1, 4.94), who is no kid at 29 years old and has never found a home with the big club. He’s primarily a fly-ball pitcher, lacking any special out-pitches. He strictly a back of the rotation guy and if the Torre had somebody better to start, he would take Stults place. This contest is more about the numbers and the Dodgers are 10-1 playing on Saturday’s and 17-4 against lefties. The Giants are 3-13 when Sanchez is starting pitcher.
Game 2 Edge: Los Angeles
The reigning Cy Young award Tim Lincecum (3-1, 3.05) brings tranquility and confidence to the Giants team when he pitches. San Francisco has scored five or more runs nine times this season, four when Lincecum pitches. He is one of the few pitchers in baseball that if you are a fan of pitching, you want to watch him make hitters look silly with his overpowering fastball and knee-buckling curve. He will go up against Jeff Weaver (1-0, 1.00), who is on his second tour of duty with the Dodgers and made first start since 2007 last Tuesday against Arizona. Weaver struck out six, walked one and allowed one run in five innings, throwing a season-high 85 pitches. He was in continual trouble with runners in scoring position in four of the innings pitched, but escaped. Lincecum is 3-0 lifetime versus L.A.
Game 3 Edge: San Francisco
As much fun as it would be to bet on the Giants for big payday, it’s very difficult to bet against Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium right now. Billingsley is very sharp, which should be a win and Sanchez wildness puts more Dodgers on the base paths. Though Stults is far from a sure thing, San Francisco’s lack of production at the plate makes Torre’s troops the obvious play.
DiamaondSportsbook.com series odds: San Francisco +170, L.A. Dodgers -220
3DW Pick: Dodgers
2009 Record – 1-3
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