Billingsley, Dodgers (-134) at San Francisco Giants
Game Time: 09/07/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Chad Billingsley is pitching like you'd expect a 1st-round draft choice to pitch. Lay the chalk on Billingsley and the Dodgers on the road in San Fran against the Giants.
Our Friday night MLB selection is on the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
If the Dodgers don't make the postseason, it certainly cannot be blamed on young right-handed starter Chad Billingsley. The former first-round draft pick who turned 23 about a month ago has done everything right this season with 10 wins, a 3.30 ERA, only 106 hits in over 122 innings and 118 strikeouts. Billingsley has elevated himself to within a notch of the elite starters in the league with those numbers. Even more amazing are his numbers away from the normally pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium as he is 7-2 with a 2.71 ERA and only 51 hits in over 66 innings on the road this season.
Billingsley seems like a veteran starter compared with the Giants' left-hander Jonathan Sanchez. Although two years older than Billingsley, Sanchez has only started five games in his two years of major league service. But with San Francisco not going to the postseason and roster expansion here, they have obviously decided to see what they've got with Sanchez. And what it appears they have is a southpaw strikeout specialist who needs to gain better control of his pitches (so the Giants can't be faulted for letting him get some additional experience as a starter).
Nonetheless, Sanchez deserves to be a huge underdog here. There are few teams, if any, who have been so dominant in an opponent's ballpark as the Dodgers have been at AT&T Park where LA has won its last 11 games played there. Take the Dodgers.
Free Pick: Dodgers -134
Game Time: 09/07/2007 10:05 PM -
By: Al McMordie | bigal.com
Chad Billingsley is pitching like you'd expect a 1st-round draft choice to pitch. Lay the chalk on Billingsley and the Dodgers on the road in San Fran against the Giants.
Our Friday night MLB selection is on the Los Angeles Dodgers over the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.
If the Dodgers don't make the postseason, it certainly cannot be blamed on young right-handed starter Chad Billingsley. The former first-round draft pick who turned 23 about a month ago has done everything right this season with 10 wins, a 3.30 ERA, only 106 hits in over 122 innings and 118 strikeouts. Billingsley has elevated himself to within a notch of the elite starters in the league with those numbers. Even more amazing are his numbers away from the normally pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium as he is 7-2 with a 2.71 ERA and only 51 hits in over 66 innings on the road this season.
Billingsley seems like a veteran starter compared with the Giants' left-hander Jonathan Sanchez. Although two years older than Billingsley, Sanchez has only started five games in his two years of major league service. But with San Francisco not going to the postseason and roster expansion here, they have obviously decided to see what they've got with Sanchez. And what it appears they have is a southpaw strikeout specialist who needs to gain better control of his pitches (so the Giants can't be faulted for letting him get some additional experience as a starter).
Nonetheless, Sanchez deserves to be a huge underdog here. There are few teams, if any, who have been so dominant in an opponent's ballpark as the Dodgers have been at AT&T Park where LA has won its last 11 games played there. Take the Dodgers.
Free Pick: Dodgers -134