Oswalt, Billingsley face off in Los Angeles
Oswalt, Billingsley face off as Astros, Dodgers battle in Los Angeles
Several solid pitching matchups dot the Friday schedule as baseball enjoys its first full day of action in five days. The game between the Astros and Dodgers in LA might be the best of all.
Today is one of those days that I wish cloning technology was available. Baseball’s first full 15-game slate since the All-Star break has four games I’d like to see in person, and while the airfare would be expensive, think of the miles I’d rack up.
One of the games I’d like to see is in Cleveland where the Mariners send Felix Hernandez to the mound against David Huff. I’d also love to see Tim Lincecum pitch as the Giants visit Paul Maholm and the Pirates. There’s a great potential matchup in Florida where Ricky Nolasco, one of the hottest arms going these days, takes on Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies. And then late tonight on the West Coast, Roy Oswalt and the surging Astros meet Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers who boast the top record in the majors.
Since I can only be in one place at a time, I have to pick one of those and I’m going with the Oswalt (9-10, 3.85), Billingsley (13-6, 3.38) pairing in LA. The line opened and remains at most shops with Los Angeles the -150 to -155 favorites, and a total of 7½.
There are a couple of reasons to like Houston in this one, beginning with the fact they are playing winning ball right now as we saw in last night’s series opener. Wandy Rodriguez combined with four relievers to hold the Dodgers to eight hits and no plate crossings as the Astros took a 3-0 win to get their second half underway. The Astros hit the break winning six of eight, and since they plopped to a season-low 10-game below .500 on May 30, Houston has posted a 26-15 record.
The win last night also gave the ‘Stros a 6-2 record in their last eight games at Dodger Stadium, and they have an arm on the hill tonight that is on a good run since yet another slow start to a campaign.
Oswalt faced the Dodgers once this year in April, picking up the win in Houston after hurling six frames and allowing four runs in a 6-5 Astros win. He surrendered three long balls in that one (Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Casey Blake), but kept the damage at a minimum with two of the clouts of the bases empty variety.
Houston is 5-5 in his 10 road starts this season with Oswalt posting a 3.71 ERA away from home. This will be just his second start at Chavez Ravine in the past four seasons. His previous outing in LA was in Aug 2007 when he worked eight innings and gave up one run in a Houston triumph.
Los Angeles also has an ace of their own on the mound in Billingsley who beat the Astros in Houston on Apr 23, tossing 7.1 innings and giving up no runs in a 2-0 LA victory. He’s 3-2 lifetime against the Astros, with all three wins coming in Houston where he’s posted a 0.73 ERA and 0-2 against them in Los Angeles where his ERA is 7.20. A limited sample size, no doubt, yet still a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Dodgers are 6-3 in Billingsley’s home starts so far in 2009, but just 2-3 in his last five overall appearances with the righthander winless himself since June 14. Interestingly enough, after Billingsley’s win in Houston in April, his ERA was at a season-low 2.05 and it has steadily climbed since then, and is 5.23 over those recent five starting assignments since his last win.
Umpire Jerry Meals is yet another reason to like the visitors as home teams are 8-11 this season with him behind the plate. That includes a 1-3 record in the -145 to -185 price range. The Over has a slight advantage in Meals’ games this season at 11-7-1, with the only game he worked with a total of 8.0 or less going over.
As for the weather, it’s LA so what do you expect. It should be a nice day in the area with no rain in the forecast and mid-to-upper 70s for the first pitch. Winds are listed at 5-10 MPH out of the South (blowing out to center).
Astros +145 is my pick.
Several solid pitching matchups dot the Friday schedule as baseball enjoys its first full day of action in five days. The game between the Astros and Dodgers in LA might be the best of all.
Today is one of those days that I wish cloning technology was available. Baseball’s first full 15-game slate since the All-Star break has four games I’d like to see in person, and while the airfare would be expensive, think of the miles I’d rack up.
One of the games I’d like to see is in Cleveland where the Mariners send Felix Hernandez to the mound against David Huff. I’d also love to see Tim Lincecum pitch as the Giants visit Paul Maholm and the Pirates. There’s a great potential matchup in Florida where Ricky Nolasco, one of the hottest arms going these days, takes on Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies. And then late tonight on the West Coast, Roy Oswalt and the surging Astros meet Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers who boast the top record in the majors.
Since I can only be in one place at a time, I have to pick one of those and I’m going with the Oswalt (9-10, 3.85), Billingsley (13-6, 3.38) pairing in LA. The line opened and remains at most shops with Los Angeles the -150 to -155 favorites, and a total of 7½.
There are a couple of reasons to like Houston in this one, beginning with the fact they are playing winning ball right now as we saw in last night’s series opener. Wandy Rodriguez combined with four relievers to hold the Dodgers to eight hits and no plate crossings as the Astros took a 3-0 win to get their second half underway. The Astros hit the break winning six of eight, and since they plopped to a season-low 10-game below .500 on May 30, Houston has posted a 26-15 record.
The win last night also gave the ‘Stros a 6-2 record in their last eight games at Dodger Stadium, and they have an arm on the hill tonight that is on a good run since yet another slow start to a campaign.
Oswalt faced the Dodgers once this year in April, picking up the win in Houston after hurling six frames and allowing four runs in a 6-5 Astros win. He surrendered three long balls in that one (Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Casey Blake), but kept the damage at a minimum with two of the clouts of the bases empty variety.
Houston is 5-5 in his 10 road starts this season with Oswalt posting a 3.71 ERA away from home. This will be just his second start at Chavez Ravine in the past four seasons. His previous outing in LA was in Aug 2007 when he worked eight innings and gave up one run in a Houston triumph.
Los Angeles also has an ace of their own on the mound in Billingsley who beat the Astros in Houston on Apr 23, tossing 7.1 innings and giving up no runs in a 2-0 LA victory. He’s 3-2 lifetime against the Astros, with all three wins coming in Houston where he’s posted a 0.73 ERA and 0-2 against them in Los Angeles where his ERA is 7.20. A limited sample size, no doubt, yet still a bit of a head-scratcher.
The Dodgers are 6-3 in Billingsley’s home starts so far in 2009, but just 2-3 in his last five overall appearances with the righthander winless himself since June 14. Interestingly enough, after Billingsley’s win in Houston in April, his ERA was at a season-low 2.05 and it has steadily climbed since then, and is 5.23 over those recent five starting assignments since his last win.
Umpire Jerry Meals is yet another reason to like the visitors as home teams are 8-11 this season with him behind the plate. That includes a 1-3 record in the -145 to -185 price range. The Over has a slight advantage in Meals’ games this season at 11-7-1, with the only game he worked with a total of 8.0 or less going over.
As for the weather, it’s LA so what do you expect. It should be a nice day in the area with no rain in the forecast and mid-to-upper 70s for the first pitch. Winds are listed at 5-10 MPH out of the South (blowing out to center).
Astros +145 is my pick.
