Pirates vs. Dodgers Prediction
The Los Angeles Dodgers trail the NL-West leading Arizona Diamondbacks by 2.5 games in the standings. Can Los Angeles at least keep pace in the division race when it opens a home series tonight versus the Pittsburgh Pirates?
Game Snapshot
955 Pittsburgh Pirates at 956 Los Angeles Dodgers
Monday, July 2, 2018
Dodger Stadium at 10:10PM ET
TV: MLB Network
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Public Betting Information
According to oddsmakers, the Dodgers are a -171 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Pirates are a +161 underdog, while the total is set at 7.5 runs. As of Monday afternoon, 74 percent of public bets are pouring in on host Los Angeles. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest info.
Moran hits grand slam in win
Pittsburgh won two out of three games at San Diego over the weekend, culminating in Sunday’s 7-5 victory. Colin Moran helped pace the Pirates offense as he went 2-for-4 with a grand slam. Austin Meadows finished 2-for-5 with a double and a run. Josh Bell was 1-for-3 with two walks and a run. Corey Dickerson finished 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored. Elias Diaz was 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Kyle Crick threw 1 1/3 innings of hitless and scoreless relief to get the win, striking out two and walking two. Felipe Vazquez threw a perfect ninth inning for his 17th save, striking out two batters.
Kemp home run propels LA
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles added another run in the eighth and went on to win 6-4, ending a three-game losing streak. Kemp finished his big day 3-for-4 with a double plus his 14th homer, driving in four runs. Max Muncy was 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs. Joc Pederson finished the game 3-for-4 with a double. Daniel Hudson earned the win as he pitched a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout. Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 22nd save.
Nick Kingham (2-3, 3.82 ERA) will start today for the Pirates, while Alex Wood (4-5, 4.00) goes for Los Angeles.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The over is 7-2 in the last nine Pirates road games. Pittsburgh is 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
Los Angeles
The Dodgers are 28-13 in their last 41 games. Los Angeles is 14-6 in Wood’s last 20 home starts.
Prediction:
Los Angeles has been struggling to string wins together, but did pick up a big one yesterday as it rallied from a two-run deficit. Wood hasn’t been the same pitcher he was last season, but he’ll face a road-weary Pittsburgh team here and a rookie pitcher in Kingham who has slowed down some after a great start to his MLB career. I’m going to bet on the Dodgers here, while I’d also lean toward the over too so I certainly won’t talk you out of that bet.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES DODGERS -171