Dodgers and Marlins from the Sunshine State

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Florida Marlins
Game Match-Up 5/15 — 7:05 EST

Friday night means that sports betting aficionados have a loaded slate of games to choose from to boost their bankrolls! As a part of a loaded MLB wagering card, the Los Angeles Dodgers (24-12, +$1,027) will continue their six-game East Coast roadie by paying a visit to the Florida Marlins (17-18, -$74). The Dodgers took two out of three in Philadelphia to kick off the week, but are still just 3-4 (-$205) in seven games since LF Manny Ramirez was suspended for violating MLB’s substance abuse policy. Meanwhile, the Fish are sliding in a bad way, as they were handed the brooms at Miller Park this week, and have now lost four straight (-$404) and seven out of nine (-$528).

Which struggling squad will pick up the ‘W’ tonight? You can find Florida at -135 and a ‘total’ of 9 over -115 at the BetOnline Sportsbookright now!

With all of the accolades that RHP Chad Billingsley collects, LHP Eric Stults has been totally lost in the shuffle for Manager Joe Torre’s boys. Don’t sleep on this lefty though, as he is off to an absolutely fantastic start to this season. In his last start, he threw a complete game shutout, the second of his career, and the second in his L/12 outings dating back to 2008. Stults is 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 32.2 IPs in ’09, and has lit it up for Los Angeles bettors as well, earning $421 on the season. The southpaw has only faced Florida twice before in his career, with one start and one relief appearance. In a total of 9.0 IPs, Stults has allowed four runs on nine hits and five walks, striking out seven in the process. Though the CG marked the first time he lasted longer than 5.2 innings this season, Stults has only allowed more than three runs in one start.

RHP Chris Volstad will get the ball from Manager Freddie Gonzalez on Friday night. The righty has been the picture of consistency for the Fish this season, as he has yet to give up more than three earned runs in any start, and has lasted at least six innings in four straight outings. After posting a 2.88 ERA and 1.33 WHIP last season, Volstad’s numbers are even better this year, as he has a 2.98 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in spite of only having a 2-2 record. Though the Marlins are 4-3 in his seven starts this season (+$100), they have lost three of his L/4 outings thanks to the fact that they’ve only averaged 3.5 runs per game in those starts (eight of which came in an 8-2 win at Wrigley Field).

There’s a big question of how long Stults can really go after throwing a season-high 123 pitches in his last outing. The Dodgers’ pen has been good this season (3.89 ERA), but Florida’s has been better (3.58 ERA). LA just isn’t the same offensive team without Manny in the lineup, which makes the selection quite easy tonight. Look for Volstad to get the Fish back in the win column with another solid seven innings, two ERs type of performance.

Rose’s Recommendation: 4* Florida Marlins -130

(Rating Scale: 1* – 5*)