The opening series of MLB is a rivalry one on the West Coast as the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers play tonight. The game is scheduled for a 10:00 p.m. EST start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the odds for the game have the Dodgers favored.

The rubber match between longtime rivals will be the focal point of ESPN's coverage tonight between the Giants and the Dodgers. Both starting pitchers tonight have a lot to prove this season with their clubs and getting off with a win tonight would certainly prove to be huge.

Tim Lincecum had an awful season in 2012 with some mechanical issues and what not, and the Giants are hoping he can return to the form that helped him win two NL Cy Young awards. Lincecum was 10-15 with an NL-worst 5.18 ERA last season and wasn't even considered for the Giants rotation during their run to a second World Series title in the last few years. Lincecum didn't win a start during Spring Training, either, and had an ERA north of 10 for the pre-season.

Josh Beckett of the Dodgers is looking to bounce back as well this season after having a rough few years for the Boston Red Sox. Beckett had an ERA above 5 while pitching for the Sox last year but did have a solid end to the season with the Dodgers, going 2-3 with a 2.92 ERA in a handful of starts.

The Dodgers picked up a win in the opening game of the season while the Giants were able to pick up a solid win last night to even the series.

LA certainly has a lot of star power going in their lineup, which includes Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. Yet, current Dodgers are hitting just .225 in better than 220 at bats against Lincecum in his career. The Giants' Hunter Pence is 6 for 14 against Beckett while Marco Scutaro is 6 for 15.

Free Pick: We like the Dodgers in this one. It's hard to believe, but Beckett seems to be more consistent and a better option on the mound tonight than Lincecum is. The line is a bit fishy and should probably be higher, but in the end the Dodgers are going to be the play for us here in this one.

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