Posted on 4/4/2008 5:13:55 PM

MLB Baseball Betting - Dodgers vs Padres

By D.S Williamson

This is a very important game for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yes, I understand that there are 162 baseball games in a single season. Yes, I understand that this will be the Dodgers’ fourth game of the year - - their fourth out of 162. But nobody can say this isn’t an important game. The starter for the Dodgers in this game is Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda’s record in Japan was 103 and 89 all time. Last year he went 12 and 8 with an ERA of 3.56. I’ve actually spoken to some Dodger watchers who made the trip out to Arizona to check Kuroda out during spring training. From what they tell me, the guy’s got a mean fastball.

San Diego counters with Justin Germano. Last year Germano pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies. He finished the season with an ERA of 4.45 and a record of 7 and 10. There’s another issue with Germano but before we get into that let’s check-out the BetUS lines.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Hiroki Kuroda – R + 1 ½ - 190 + 110 O 8

San Diego Padres

Justin Germano – R - 1 ½ + 160 - 130 U 8

I can tell you right now that + 160 on Germano at home and giving up a run and a half to Kuroda and the Dodgers is just ridiculous. That’s not a good wager at all. It makes more sense to put up the extra 90 bucks and take the run and a half on Kuroda.

But there’s no reason to even think about a wager on either pitcher. First, if you want to bet Kuroda, then the odds are + 110. That’s not a bad BetUS money-line on a pitcher of Kuroda’s ability.

Why even ride Kuroda, though, when you know that the Dodgers will be fired up to take it to the Padres in this first game against their SoCal rivals? The BetUS money-line on the Dodgers to win is + 110. That’s more than even money. To me it’s a great wager.

Why? Because Justin Germano stinks against the Dodgers. Last year Germano posted a 5.60 ERA against the Dodgers and lost all three starts against them. In his lifetime against the Dodgers Germano has a 7.59 ERA and an 0 and 4 record against Los Angeles.

This looks like an easy one to me.

The BetUS line is Los Angeles Dodgers + 110 to win straight-up on the road versus the San Diego Padres.

Kuroda should handle is own which means that Germano has to do the same. He won’t. I expect the Dodgers to win this one comfortably.

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