Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds – Baseball Betting Odds

Two of baseball’s brightest young pitchers will do battle in Cincinnati in Wednesday night’s baseball betting odds. That’s when Mike Leake and the Cincinnati Reds get a visit from Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers (37-27 SU, 30-34 R/L, 36-27-1 O/U) at Cincinnati Reds (36-29 SU, 33-32 R/L, 34-24-7 O/U)
Wednesday, June 16: 7:10 p.m.

Betting Odds:

Los Angeles: -1 ½, +145, -115
(Clayton Kershaw-L)

Cincinnati: + 1 ½, -165, -105
(Mike Leake-R)

Total Runs:

Over 8: -120
Under 8: EV

While Stephen Strasburg is getting a ton of buzz in Washington right now, it seems more and more like it’ll be Leake, who’ll end the season as the National League’s top rookie pitcher. Looking at the stats, it’s no wonder why.

The rookie- who a year ago was getting ready to pitch in the College World Series for Arizona State- has been phenomenal in his first go-around in the Senior Circuit, as he has quietly put together an impressive start. The 22-year-old is 5-0 in 12 starts, with a 2.68 ERA. It is important to note however that his last start was his worst in the major’s, as he allowed five earned runs in just 4.1 innings in a no decision to San Francisco.

Not to be outdone by the young Reds righty is Clayton Kershaw, who is only eight months older than Leake. Kershaw has steadily emerged into Los Angeles’ top pitcher this season, as he comes into this game with a 6-3 record, and 3.19 ERA. His big curveball has already made him one of the elite lefties in baseball, as he is fourth in the National League with 90 strikeouts.

So with two great arms on the mound, who’ll have the upper-hand offensively? Early indications are that it’ll be the Dodgers. Los Angeles comes ranks in the top half of baseball in most major offensive categories, including runs scored (4.75) and team batting average (.269). Andre Ethier leads this offense with a .339 batting average, 11 home runs with 40 RBI, all despite missing two weeks with an injury during May.

As for Cincinnati, they too are led by a big bat in the middle of their lineup, third baseman Scott Rolen. Rolen has been one of the great surprises in all of baseball in 2010, as after several injury plagued years, he’s bounced back in a big way. He leads this team with 14 home runs, and has driven in 45 RBI as well. As a squad, Cincinnati is batting .279, second in baseball.

Despite that offense though, it is still the Dodgers who should be your Wednesday night baseball bet.
Kershaw is red-hot, as the Dodgers have won his last starts, and he hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any outing since the first week of May.
Expect a big strikeout performance from him, and for Leake to finally suffer his first Major League loss, leading to a comfortable Dodgers run line win.

Aaron’s Pick: Dodgers Run Line (-1 ½, +145)