San Francisco Giants at L.A. Dodgers Betting Odds
Opening Moneyline: Giants -110/ Dodgers -110 O/U 6.5 runs
Game Time: 8 PM EST Thursday March 31, 2011 on ESPN
The MLB season kicks off on Thursday and the night ESPN game is a sweet one with the L.A. Dodgers playing host to the defending champion San Francisco Giants. For the Giants the same team will have to carry them back to the playoffs, as they did not make any major moves with the only addition of note in the off-season was SS Miguel Tejada (.269 15 HR 71 RBI). The Dodgers also did not make any major moves, but this will be the first season under head coach Don Mattingly with Joe Torre gone.
Obviously spring training does not mean much, but the Giants have gone a best 22-12 in the Cactus League while the Dodgers are only 13-21.
Obviously teams throw out their best pitchers on opening day and the Giants open with 2-time Cy Young winner Ace RHP Tim Lincecum (16-10 3.43 ERA) and on the mound for the Dodgers is potential Ace Clayton Kershaw (13-10 2.91 ERA)
The Giants have won 4 of their last 5 games against the Giants.
The pitching may have to carry their teams in this game, as neither team has a great offense. Last season the Giants ranked 17th in the league in runs scored and the Dodgers ranked 21st.
The Dodgers do have a couple of solid offensive pieces in Matt Kemp and Andre Eithier, but the latter may be a distraction this season, as he looks for a new contract. Either began last season on fire, but did not play great in the 2nd half. Kemp has pop in his bat and comes up with clutch RBI’s, but he must improve on last season’s .247 batting average.
The Giants obviously won with pitching last season, but they also played stellar defense. One concern for them this season is at SS, as Tejada has a good bat, but he is getting older and not the best fielder. Also, one of the best defensive players for the Giants last season was 2B Juan Uribe, who is now with the Dodgers.
Giants 1B Aubrey Huff (26 HR 86 RBI) came up big last season and he has to get off to a good start this season.
The Giants have reason to be concerned if they head into this game, as the first few for that matter, with a late lead, as stud closer Brian Wilson is likely out for a few games to begin the season.
San Francisco is 5-0 in Lincecum’s last 5 road starts and they are 7-1 in Lincecum’s last 8 starts vs. Dodgers.
In the last 8 games between these 2 bitter NL West rivals the total has gone Under the posted run total.
Our Selection : Giants starter T. Lincecum was on fire last April going 4-0 with a 1.29 era. There is no reason to think anything will be different this year.
Take the Giants -103 at 5Dimes using their reduced MLB betting lines.
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