MLB Betting Odds – Battle in Los Angeles: Dodgers vs Angels

The second place teams in the AL and NL West divisions begin an interleague series in Los Angeles as the Dodgers travel down the highway to Anaheim to take on the Angels in the first of a three-game set.

The MLB odds makers have the visiting Dodgers as the -130 favorites; the comeback on the Angels is +130. The game total is 8 runs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have flirted with first place in the National League West.

They even enjoyed a day in first just last week but after being swept by the Boston Red Sox, they’ve given first back to the San Diego Padres.

MLB Betting Odds

June 22, 2010

Los Angeles Dodgers -1½ +130 -130 Clayton Kershaw -L

Los Angeles Angels +1½ -150 +110 Ervin Santana – R

Game Total 8

• Location: Angels Stadium of Anaheim
• Game Time: 10:05pm
• TV: KCAL, FSW

The Dodgers have lost four straight but the man on the mound five games ago is the same man on the mound tonight. Clayton Kershaw is showing why he’s the Dodgers number one pitcher in LA. Kershaw is second in the National League with 10.3 strikeouts per 9 innings and has been brilliant over his last eight starts posting a record of 6-1 and an ERA of 1.82.

He’s been especially brilliant in his two starts versus the Angels last season with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 0.75.

The Angels counter Kershaw’s brilliance with a pitcher that is struggling, Ervin Santana is just 6-5 with a 3.91 ERA.

He started well winning five straight starts but he has been knocked around in his last two games, posting a 0-2 record with an ERA of 9.00.

Santana can lean on history tonight, as the Angels have owned the “Freeway Series” winning 17 of the 23 games since interleague play began.

If you are looking for some trends to support taking the Los Angeles Dodgers, you should consider that the Dodgers are 4-0 in their past four games as a road favorite of -110 to -150. They Dodgers are 5-0 in their past 5 games as road favorite overall.

The Dodgers are an impressive 9-0 in the last nine Kershaw starts against a team with a winning record.

If you are looking for a reason to bet on the Angels, you should consider that the Angels are 9-1 in their past 10 games as an underdog and they have bounced back well as they are 6-1 in their last 7 following a loss. Despite Santana’s struggles, the Angels are 8-0 in their last 8 games as an underdog of +110 to +150.

The Dodgers have their best on the mound tonight and he should be enough to end their losing streak. Ervin Santana won’t be lit up as he has been in his last two starts but he won’t pitch well enough to beat Kershaw and the Dodgers.