After a horrible start to their season, the Miami Marlins (15-17) are slowly climbing up the standings in the National League East division. That said, they’ve been hindered of late by their inconsistencies on the mound and at the plate. Against the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (20-10), the Marlines will have to get it together if they are to pull an upset in their series opener later tonight.
In another ball game tonight, the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics play Game 1 of their own three-game series. Click here for a detailed preview of that game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Miami Marlins vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
When: Monday, May 11, 2015, 10:10 PM ET
Line: Miami Marlins (+190) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-220); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Miami Marlins
Miami has been alternating wins and losses of late, going 3-3 over its last six games. In the team’s latest outing, the Marlins failed to win consecutively again, as they lost to San Francisco on Sunday, 3-2. They’ll continue their west coast road trip later tonight as they travel to Chavez Ravine for a showdown with the Dodgers. The Marlins are 5-5 over their last 10 road games.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Facing LA in the series opener is Tom Koehler, who is looking to recover from a forgettable start in a 7-5 loss to Washington on May 6. Koehler (2-3, 5.18 ERA) was rocked hard in that game, allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings pitched. Most of the damage, however, was done by Bryce Harper, who knocked three home runs off Koehler.
With Koehler having a shaky season thus far, the Marlins will have to rely on their offense more in tonight’s game against LA. The Marlins have actually been doing well at the plate in Koehler’s recent outings this season, averaging 5.1 runs over righty’s last six starts. With that said, Giancarlo Stanton and company are pressed to deliver again when they face Zack Greinke in the series opener.
Stanton leads the team in home runs (7), runs (20), and RBIs (29). His power game complements Miami’s solid hitters atop the order like Dee Gordon and Martin Prado. Gordon tops the team in batting average (.439) and in on-base percentage (.462), while Prado is hitting .295 with a .336 OBP.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are on a streak again. After pummeling Colorado, 9-5, on Sunday, the Dodgers make their way back home, looking to extend their win streak to four games. With Zack Greinke on the mound later tonight, LA has every reason to feel confident of its chances of doing just that when they take on the visiting Marlins.
Greinke has yet to taste a defeat in this season. In his most recent start, Greinke tossed 7.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 8-2 win against Milwaukee on April 5. His performance in that game improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his ERA to a National League-best 1.56 clip.
With the Marlins in town, Greinke will also have a chance not only to prolong his unbeaten run this season, but also to solidify his dominance of Miami. Since 2008, Greinke’s teams are a combined 5-0 in his last five starts against Miami. Of those games, Greinke was able to come up with a 3-0 record to go along with a 3.97 ERA.
The Dodgers’ lineup, particularly their power hitters like Adrian Gonzalez (.377/.438/.737 with nine homers) and Joc Pederson (258/.432/.618 with nine homers), will be especially eager to face Koehler – a pitcher with a tendency to give up the long ball. Koehler is 11th in the majors in home runs surrendered with 11, and owns a 5.53 FIP, sixth worst overall.
Writer’s Prediction
LA wins (-220), 7-2.
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