Diamondbacks vs Padres MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Arizona Diamondbacks entered this series on Tuesday night coming off three straight wins to start the season, while the Padres did just the exact opposite, dropping three of four to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now the two division rivals will face off on Wednesday in game two of a three-game series with the D’backs leading the series 1-0.
ARI: J. Saunders (0-0, -.–) vs. SD: C. Luebke (0-1, 9.64)
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 10 – 10:05 PM EST
Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, California
Broadcast: FSAZ (Arizona), FSSD (San Diego)
LINE:Padres -118
TOTAL: 7
Preseason favorite to win the division Arizona, swept the San Francisco Giants as they tore through their vaunted pitching staff to eke out three straight one-run wins at home to begin the 2012 campaign.
The D’backs pitching on the other hand was not impressive by any means, allowing 16 runs and 23 hits, including 11 in the opener.
They will need to get better production on the mound if they want to remain on top of the NL West, and will look for Joe Saunders to reel in the run count in game two.
The veteran southpaw did not have his finest spring, going 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA over his first four starts, but was still was able to secure a spot in the Arizona rotation after he finished the spring with a win against the Brewers, in a game that he allowed three runs on five hits over five innings of work. He also struck out five and walked one.
The 30-year-old went 3-1 with a 1.47 ERA in four starts against San Diego last season and will now face a Padres team that went 5-4 against the Diamondback in 2011 at pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
Nevertheless, the Padres, who finished last in the NL West in 2011, and lost 11 of 18 meetings with Arizona last season, still look eerily similar to last year’s team that struggled to plate runs.
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The Padres managed just 12 hits for a .126 batting average in their first three games against LA, but recovered on Sunday, when Chase Headley’s grand slam sparked an 8-4 win. Headley’s grand slam snapped an 0-for-12 start to the season.
San Diego will now try to the near impossible–trying to end their hitting woes, while going with lefty Corey Luebke on the mound for the second time this young season.
Luebke did not look his sharpest in his season debut against the Dodgers on Friday, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 6-0 loss. He did however, strike out six and walked just one while throwing 86 pitches, 57 for strikes.
The 27 year old was 5-8 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 starts a year ago including a 0-3 record with a 5.50 ERA in five appearances (three starts) against Arizona a year ago.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Diamondbacks- This one will be won or lost on the mound. And even though Luebke posted some decent strikeout numbers his last time out, the Diamondbacks will inflict just enough offensive damage to get the win, as the Padres will likely continue to give their pitchers zero run support.
