Friday night baseball and we will see the Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati to take on the Cincinnati Reds in game 1 of their 3 game series. The game is scheduled for a 7:10 (ET) pm start time and it will be televised live on MLB Network. Currently the ODDS have Cincinnati favored at -128, while Los Angeles is dogs of +121. The total for the game sits at 8.5 runs. 67% of the Public is currently on Cincinnati, while 67% is on the OVER. Get all the Public's action by clicking HERE.
Free Analysis: The Los Angeles Dodgers' chance of winning their division is bleak and they're running out of time in the wild-card race. Los Angeles (77-73) was one-half game out of a playoff spot Sept. 3, but has lost 10 of 14 since and is now three back of the Cardinals for the NL's second wild card with 12 to play. Winning the NL West is just about out of the question, seeing as it's dropped 10 games behind first-place San Francisco. A sluggish offense has been one of the biggest reasons for Los Angeles' recent struggles. It managed four hits in Thursday's 4-1 loss, and has totaled seven runs in its last seven defeats. Matt Kemp has been responsible for some of this mess, batting .148 with three RBIs and 17 strikeouts in his last 13 games, dropping his average 28 points to .303. Kemp has given scheduled starter Bronson Arroyo problems, batting .409 with two homers in 22 career at-bats. Joe Blanton is just 1-4 with a 6.07 ERA in eight starts since Los Angeles acquired him from the Philadelphia Phillies. He received a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Blanton hasn’t faced Cincinnati this season and is 2-0 with a 4.85 ERA in four career starts against the Reds.
The Cincinnati Reds became the first team to secure a playoff spot and a division title seems inevitable. By sweeping a three-game series from the Chicago Cubs with Friday's 5-3 win, Cincinnati (91-59) ensured itself of at least a wild-card berth. The Central crown could be wrapped up as early as Friday, if second-place St. Louis, which is 11 games back, loses to the Cubs in the afternoon and the Reds beat the Dodgers. Cincinnati won its last two games without Baker, who was hospitalized in Chicago with an irregular heartbeat. General manager Walt Jocketty said he didn't know if Baker would be able to manage Friday. While Baker's status is uncertain, Joey Votto will be back in the starting lineup after most of the regulars rested Friday. Votto is batting .391 during a seven-game hitting streak, and is batting .348 with six homers and 22 RBIs in his last 17 games against the Dodgers. Bronson Arroyo (12-8, 3.74 ERA), who has yet to face the Dodgers this season, has a 2.60 ERA in winning his last four starts in the series.
Against Miami on Friday, the right-hander allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 4-0 loss. It was the first time he gave up more than three runs since Aug. 6, having gone 5-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his previous six starts.
Free Pick: I like the Over in his one. The Dodgers offense has been slumping a gain, but maybe a weekend series at a hitters park, with a lot on the line, will wake his offense up. The Dodgers have scored just 2.4 rpg in their last 10 games, but will be taking on Bronson Arroyo, who has a 4.15 ERA at home on the year, so I look for hem o have some success in this one. The Dodgers offense will have to do well if hey hope to win this one as hey have Joe Blanton on he mound, who has a 5.38 road ERA his year, including a road ERA of 7.77 in 4 starts away from home as a member of the Dodgers. The Reds average 4.47 rpg at home and should be able to tag Blanton for a bunch in his one. I expect both offenses to have good showings tonight as his game hits DD.
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