San Diego Padres (3-1) vs Los Angeles Dodgers ( 7-6)
The Padres may have won yesterday to break their losing streak but they are still struggling greatly this season. They are already 6 games back in the standing of the N.L. West standings and will need more than just fire in their bellies to overcome.
Tuesday April 16
Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
10:10 PM
Probable Starters:
SD: Jason Marquis (R)
LAD: Chris Capuano (L)
Moneyline: Los Angeles -179, San Diego +169 at Bovada
O/U: 7.5
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San Diego
They are really challenged offensively right now and with OF Carlos Quentin on suspension and OF Chase Headley injured there is not much to fear about their lineup.
That puts even more pressure on the starting pitchers. I have written here before that I am not a fan of Jason Marquis.
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The journeyman starter seems to like the warmth of San Diego but I am not sure how long he can keep up his mediocrity given that he is practically walking more than he strikes out and giving up more than one homer per contest.
Being in the N.L. West with several pitcher’s parks helps out a great deal.
Los Angeles
If the Dodgers thought they were going to romp through the N.L. West this season they better get re-focused. Though they are a game over .500 but they are sitting in 4th place right now and the Diamondbacks and Rockies are showing they might make this division more interesting than expected.
They dropped the opener to San Diego last night and this series should have more juice all season long thanks to the brawl that put starter Zack Greinke on the disabled list. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Taking the spot of Greinke in the rotation is tonight’s starter Chris Capuano. The veteran lefty had been working in relief so far this season but is not stranger to the rotation. In fact, last year he had a bit of renaissance with L.A. posting his best season in years. Capuano is normally a fast starter and looked sharp in the bullpen.
I wouldn’t expect a complete game but there is no reason he can’t pitch the team to victory to even the series.
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Los Angeles 5 – San Diego 3
I like that there is some feistiness to this Padres team. They are going to be bad but they won’t let themselves be pushed around. The problem is the talent just isn’t there, especially offensively. Capuano is hardly an ace but he can be very effective, especially if he gets in a groove.
I will almost always bet against Marquis…sorry dude.
