Davis Owns the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers won all three of their home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. In order to continue that streak, the Dodgers will have to overcome a pitcher they have never beaten – or even scored a run against.
Los Angeles will attempt to reverse its struggles against Doug Davis when it hosts the Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Oddsmakers have made Los Angeles -120 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 8.5ev total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 55% of bets for this game have been placed on Los Angeles -120 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Davis has won both of his career starts against the Dodgers (16-11), allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out 11 in 15 scoreless innings. The last time Davis opposed Los Angeles, the left-hander threw a four-hitter with a walk and eight strikeouts in a Milwaukee Brewers 9-0 home win last Sept. 5.
Davis (2-2, 2.79 ERA) made his longest start of the season last Friday, when he allowed one run in seven innings of a 3-2 win over the Giants.
"Boy, he was good," manager Bob Melvin told the Diamondbacks’ official Web site. "He’s a guy that can pitch around and has a tendency to walk guys, but boy, every time he needed to make a pitch… That’s the best we’ve seen him by far."
The left-hander has lost both of his road starts this season despite posting a 1.64 ERA over those appearances. He has been charged with five unearned runs in those outings, while the Diamondbacks have given him just four total runs of support.
The Dodgers counter with Mark Hendrickson (1-0, 1.66). The left-hander has allowed one run in each of his starts – both Los Angeles victories – since replacing Jason Schmidt, who went on the disabled list on April 17.
Hendrickson, however, has totaled only 10 2-3 innings in his two starts after opening the season in the bullpen. He gave up one run, two hits and two walks in five innings Friday, but did not earn a decision in the Dodgers’ 6-5 win at San Diego.
"I understood coming out," Hendrickson told the Dodgers’ official Web site. "My arm felt good and my legs are getting in shape."
Hendrickson is 2-1 with a 4.95 ERA in four career games against Arizona (16-12).
The Dodgers ended the Diamondbacks’ six-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory Tuesday, on pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Los Angeles won for just the third time in nine games, but regained the NL West lead from Arizona.
The Diamondbacks might be without third baseman Chad Tracy after he left Tuesday’s game in the third inning because of a sore muscle in his back.
Tracy went 1-for-1 Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to seven games, a span in which he has batted .478 (11-for-23). He is also 4-for-7 against Hendrickson.
Eric Byrnes has batted .389 (7-for-18) and Orlando Hudson is a .348 (8-for-23) career hitter against Hendrickson.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
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