The BetUS Baseball Series of the Week

Two evenly matched teams, both with a season record of 31-22, will face off this weekend as the Atlanta Braves visits Los Angeles in what should be an exciting four-game set. If you are a baseball betting fan all the odds for the BetOnline Series of the Week, and every baseball matchup, are available in the BetOnline sportsbook.

Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers
June 3rd – 6th
Broadcast: SPSO

MLB Betting Series Odds: Atlanta Braves +125, Los Angeles Dodgers -155

Kris Medlen (2-1) vs Hiroki Kuroda (5-3)
Thursday, 10:10 PM ET

After a recent move from the bullpen to the starting rotation, Medlen has given Atlanta a great boost. In four starts, he has earned an ERA of 3.25 in over 22 innings of play. His strategy seems to be not to go for strikeouts, although he did have six against the New York Mets, but to pitch steadily, allowing batters to put the ball into play and relying on the defense behind him.

Kuroda, on the other hand, has been in a sort-of slump as of late, dropping his last two starts. In his last start against the Colorado Rockies, he lasted only four innings, allowing five runs on ten hits. The home field advantage hasn’t played much into Kuroda’s favor either this season, as his home ERA of 3.62 is almost equal to that of his road ERA of 3.48.

The Braves have the pitching edge here as long as their defense holds up, so Atlanta should get the win in the first game of this series.

Pick: Braves

Kenshin Kawakami (0-7) vs Clayton Kershaw (5-3)
Friday, 10:10 PM ET

Kawakami is the first Braves pitcher ever to lose his first seven starts of the season. Even though the Braves keep him in the rotation with the hopes that he must break his slump one day, Kenshi Kawakami is not a bettor’s friend.

Kershaw, however, has battled hard over the past few weeks to lower his ERA from 4.99 to 2.95, and continues to provide quality starts for the Dodgers. Easy pick, take the Dodgers in Game 2.

Pick: Dodgers

Tommy Hanson (5-3) vs Chad Billingsley (6-2)
Saturday, 10:10 PM ET

Hanson struggled during May. In six starts, he only completed just over 35 innings, in which he gave up 35 hits. His ERA for the month was 5.09, although his overall ERA for the season is 3.78.

Billingsley has played solidly so far this season, although sometimes it is his team that makes him shine a little brighter than he may deserve. In his last start, he allowed three home runs during the first two innings. However, the Dodgers were able to salvage his mistakes and Billingsley continued to pitch in what turned out to be a solid effort, with eleven strikeouts.

Both teams, as well as both pitchers, seem decently matched in this game. In a matchup where pitching is neutral – at least starting pitching – expect the defense on each team to step it up. The Dodgers have recently played a strong supporting role around Billingsley, so expect nothing less this game.

Pick: Dodgers

Tim Hudson (6-1) vs TBA (0-0)
Sunday, 4:10 PM ET

Hudson is on quite a roll, winning five straight starts in a row. Against the Philadelphia Phillies, he threw for six innings, while allowing five hits and two runs. Hudson has not allowed more than three runs in any of his starts this season. Since the month of May, he has stepped up his game even more, with an ERA of 1.79 in over 45 innings of play. Put your money on Hudson and the Braves for Game 4.

Pick: Braves

If you are looking to bet on baseball follow the starting pitching. Each game presents a strong starting pitching edge for one team. Expect the old adage of “pitching wins games” to be a truth in this series as the Dodgers and Braves split this four-game series.