MLB Baseball Betting - Los Angeles Dodgers

Manager: Joe Torre, (first season)

2007: 82-80, fourth place in NL West

Training: Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, Fla.

Home Park: Dodger Stadium, Cap. 56,000, Grass, Opened April 10, 1962

World Series Titles: (6) 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988

Acquisitions: Manager Joe Torre, C Danny Ardoin, C Gary Bennett, SS Angel Chavez, RHP Brian Falkenborg, LF John-Ford Griffin, CF Andruw Jones, RHP Greg Jones, RHP Mike Koplove, RHP Hiroki Kuroda, CF Nook Logan, LHP Tom Martin, LHP Mike Myers, C Rene Rivera, LHP Brian Shackelford, RHP Tanyon Sturtze, 3B Terry Tiffee.

Departures: OF Luis Gonzalez, LHP Mark Hendrickson, INF Olmedo Saenz, RHP Chin-hui Tsao, LHP Randy Wolf, LHP Wesley Wright.

Outlook: Not only will the Dodgers open the 2008 regular season with one of the deepest rotations in the league, but by adding respected manager Joe Torre, this club think a division title and much more could be in store for them in 2008.

Starting pitchers Brad Penny and Derek Lowe, will be followed by the surprising Chad Billingsley who went an impressive 12-5 last season with a 3.31 ERA and Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda, a three-time all-star who went 12-8 in Japan last season and is a 40-26 with a 2.86 ERA over the last three seasons.

Veteran Esteban Loaiza earned the fifth spot when it was realized that staff ace Jason Schmidt wouldn't be ready for the start of the regular season.

The bullpen with closer Takashi Saito and setup men, Jonathan Broxton, right-handers Scott Proctor and Rudy Seanez and lefties Joe Beimel and Hong-Chih Kuo while former starter Chan Ho Park will likely pitch in long relief

The Dodgers also have the makings of a solid batting order with several key veterans leading the way in first baseman Nomar Garciaparra, shortstop Rafael Furcal, second baseman Jeff Kent and newly acquired centerfielder Andruw Jones, though Jones will need to get back to the type of seasons he had in 2005 and 2006 when he hit 51 and 41 home runs respectively.

Jones dropped all the way to .222 and 26 home runs after batting a combined .262 the previous two seasons.

In left field, youngster Andre Ethier will start though the speedy Juan Pierre could see plenty of time if he falters.

Los Angeles is also excited about right fielder Matt Kemp wo hit .342 with 10 homers and 42 RBI in 98 games last season. Starting catcher Russell Martin hit .293 in 151 games last season and has a huge upside.

The Dodgers think first baseman James Loney, (.331, 15 HR in 96 games) is a star in the making.

The Dodgers begin the season listed at +1400 to win the 2008 World Series in the BetUS Sportsbook. Check out all the latest MLB odds in the BetUS Sportsbook futures section.

Go to the BetUS sportsbook today and take a swing at Major League Baseball online betting. We have the most current baseball odds and lines, as well as player, game and series props throughout the season. To help you bet on sports, check out the Free Picks section of the Locker Room for sports betting free picks and predictions. Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!

Official Website: www.losangelesdodgers.com