Cy Young on the Hill – San Francisco vs. Arizona

San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

Game-day: 4/24/2009

First-pitch: 9:40 pm est.

The Giants and D’Backs square off on Friday night with both teams chasing the hot Los Angeles Dodgers in the N.L. West. Arizona was considered a favorite to win the N.L. West but things haven’t worked out so far in 2009 with Arizona going 6 and 9 so far.

San Francisco has gone 6 and 8 which is about where most bettors expected them to be at this point in the season. The Giants start last year’s N.L. Cy Young award winner, Tim Lincecum. Lincecum hasn’t been as effective this season as last going 0 and 1 for a 3.86 ERA and WHIP of 1.53.

Arizona sends Doug Davis to the mound. Davis will try to counter Lincecum and based on stats, he might just do that. Davis is 1 and 2 on the year but his 2.57 ERA and 1.19 Whip are better than the N.L. Cy Young award winner’s stats.

Here is the BetOnline MLB betting line for this game:

San Francisco Giants

Tim Lincecum – R -1 ½ +145 -115 O 8 ½ Ev

Arizona Diamondbacks

Doug Davis – L + 1 ½ -165 -110 U 8 ½ -120

Here are a few online MLB wagering trends for this game:

The San Francisco Giants are 4 and 1 in their last 5 games overall.

The San Francisco Giants are 2 and 5 in the last 7 meetings between these two teams.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 4 and 1 in their last 5 games as a home underdog.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are 7 and 2 in their last 9 games following a day off.

Lincecum didn’t pick up the victory the last time he faced the D’Backs but he did only allow 5 hits over eight scoreless innings and he struck out 13 Arizona batters.

It was Lincecum’s 3rd start of this season and he showed the type of stuff that garnered him the Cy Young last season.

Doug Davis was just as effective in that game last Saturday when giving up 8 hits in 8 innings.

What does this add up to? An under wager on the BetOnline Total. Both Linecum and Davis should pitch well enough in this game for this game to go under the total of 8 ½.

Lincecum could very well get the victory but because I expect another pitchers’ duel, I’m not willing to put money on Lincecum and the G-Men at -1 ½ +145.

Instead, I’ll go ahead and bet this game to go under the BetOnline Total of 8 ½ in the sportsbook at -120.