LA Dodgers Open MLB Odds Series at Milwaukee Brewers
Veteran southpaws go at it Monday night in Milwaukee where the surging Brewers begin a 4-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers will attempt to do what had only been done 15 times this season heading into Sunday, and that is beat the Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee was -185 to complete a sweep of the Pirates on Sunday behind Shaun Marcum. The Brew Crew had already secured their fifth consecutive series victory at home heading into that contest and have dropped only four home series all season, the most recent July 4-6 vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Milwaukee had won 15 of 17 before Sunday's battle with the Bucs, and manager Ron Roenicke has to be pleased that it's not just one facet of his squad or another getting the job done. Brewers hurlers allowed two runs or less in 10 of those contests while the lineup plated five or more runs 11 times to help build their lead in the NL Central standings to five games over St. Louis.
It's the second and final meeting of the 2011 schedule between the clubs following a split in Los Angeles in mid-May. Both of those contests went 'under' the MLB betting totals. The Dodgers swept the Brewers in Milwaukee last season and come in having won seven of the last nine games played at Miller Park.
Don Mattingly will give the ball to Ted Lilly (10-14, 4.71) for the series opener with Lilly no stranger to the venue or foe having spent several seasons with the rival Chicago Cubs before being dealt to LA in 2010. He made one start here after joining the Dodgers last July, picking up the win as a 125 road favorite. Lilly's last five outings at Miller Park have resulted in four team victories with his ERA a sparkling 2.22 in 32 1/3 innings.
Two quality starts this month by Lilly have not produced winning results. Los Angeles is 4-7 in his 11 assignments away from Chavez Ravine this year. Working in his favor is the fact the Brewers have struggled a bit against left-handers, winning just 13 of 27 matchups.
Then again, the Dodgers haven't exactly dominated southpaws in 2011 themselves, splitting their 32 games against lefty starters. They'll be facing one who is a former teammate when Roenicke sends Randy Wolf (13-11, 3.48) to the mound.
Wolf's 11 Miller Park assignments have resulted in eight Milwaukee triumphs. He'll be trying to stop a two-game losing skid against the Dodgers after dropping a game to them in Los Angeles on May 17 as an even-money road 'dog.
Game 1 is slated to get underway at 5:10 p.m. (PT) on what should be a nice evening in Milwaukee. Clear skies and a first-pitch temp in the mid-70s should mean the roof at Miller Park will be open.
The series continues Tuesday with Los Angeles expected to send Chad Billingsley to the mound opposite Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers.
Veteran southpaws go at it Monday night in Milwaukee where the surging Brewers begin a 4-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers will attempt to do what had only been done 15 times this season heading into Sunday, and that is beat the Brewers at Miller Park. Milwaukee was -185 to complete a sweep of the Pirates on Sunday behind Shaun Marcum. The Brew Crew had already secured their fifth consecutive series victory at home heading into that contest and have dropped only four home series all season, the most recent July 4-6 vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Milwaukee had won 15 of 17 before Sunday's battle with the Bucs, and manager Ron Roenicke has to be pleased that it's not just one facet of his squad or another getting the job done. Brewers hurlers allowed two runs or less in 10 of those contests while the lineup plated five or more runs 11 times to help build their lead in the NL Central standings to five games over St. Louis.
It's the second and final meeting of the 2011 schedule between the clubs following a split in Los Angeles in mid-May. Both of those contests went 'under' the MLB betting totals. The Dodgers swept the Brewers in Milwaukee last season and come in having won seven of the last nine games played at Miller Park.
Don Mattingly will give the ball to Ted Lilly (10-14, 4.71) for the series opener with Lilly no stranger to the venue or foe having spent several seasons with the rival Chicago Cubs before being dealt to LA in 2010. He made one start here after joining the Dodgers last July, picking up the win as a 125 road favorite. Lilly's last five outings at Miller Park have resulted in four team victories with his ERA a sparkling 2.22 in 32 1/3 innings.
Two quality starts this month by Lilly have not produced winning results. Los Angeles is 4-7 in his 11 assignments away from Chavez Ravine this year. Working in his favor is the fact the Brewers have struggled a bit against left-handers, winning just 13 of 27 matchups.
Then again, the Dodgers haven't exactly dominated southpaws in 2011 themselves, splitting their 32 games against lefty starters. They'll be facing one who is a former teammate when Roenicke sends Randy Wolf (13-11, 3.48) to the mound.
Wolf's 11 Miller Park assignments have resulted in eight Milwaukee triumphs. He'll be trying to stop a two-game losing skid against the Dodgers after dropping a game to them in Los Angeles on May 17 as an even-money road 'dog.
Game 1 is slated to get underway at 5:10 p.m. (PT) on what should be a nice evening in Milwaukee. Clear skies and a first-pitch temp in the mid-70s should mean the roof at Miller Park will be open.
The series continues Tuesday with Los Angeles expected to send Chad Billingsley to the mound opposite Yovani Gallardo of the Brewers.
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