MLB Betting Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates

Added on Aug 16, 2012 by Jack Thurman in

MLB

National League action on Thursday afternoon as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to pull off the sweep against the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are at risk of playing themselves out of the divisional race having dropped 7 of 10 and now find themselves in a tie for second place with the St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams are 7 games back of the Cincinnati Reds who are on the verge of leaving the rest of the division in the dust. The Dodgers are now a game up on the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates
August 16, 2012 1:05 PM Pacific

Pittsburgh desperately needs a win to ‘right the ship’ before they head out on the road for the next week including a three game set against the St. Louis Cardinals. The good news for the Bucs is that this game sets up well for them. They’ll be starting A.J. Burnett who has become a top line starter for Pittsburgh and has been flat out dominant at home. At PNC Park the righthander has a 2.33 ERA with the Pirates winning 10 of his 11 home starts. Los Angeles will counter with recently acquired Joe Blanton who has a far less impressive ERA (4.61 overall). Granted he played most of the summer for a dismal Philadelphia team but the Pirates definitely have the edge in the starting pitching matchup.

Another factor that could be at play–Pittsburgh has been great playing in daytime this year. The Pirates have a 25-14 +14 unit record in day games and this is a spot where they need a win in a big way. The Dodgers could be happy with a 3 wins in 4 games series in the Steel City and be looking ahead to a big weekend set with the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. To be fair, the Pirates have a big series in St. Louis but that really just underscores the urgency that they start winning. Unless they do their excellent season could all go to waste as they’re not even guaranteed a playoff spot. Were the season to end today St. Louis would get the final wildcard spot and the Pirates would go home. We’re not quite as bullish on the Bucs in their weekend series against the Cards but we do like them to get the victory here.

Bet Pittsburgh Pirates (Burnett) -130 over Los Angeles Dodgers (Blanton)