Baseball Picks: Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers

Written July 16, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz

astros-dodgers-preview-071609 The Astros are 44-44 on the season which currently has them 3.5 games back of the division leading Cardinals. Houston has played much better of late and is a team that should be taken seriously in the second half. They have gone 6-2 in their last eight games. Lance Berkman has been on fire recently as his numbers have reached 18 homers and 55 RBIs. Carlos Lee has 13 homers and 49 RBIs while hitting .308. However, it is not the known stars that have carried this team. All-Star selects Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence have been incredible. Tejada has collected seven home runs and 49 RBIs while hitting a team high .329 from the dish. Pence, who I am very high on, has hit .298 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs while also swiping nine bases. He is a five tool player for sure. Now, talk about underrated, Wandy Rodriguez defines that word. On the season the young flame thrower is 8-6 with a 2.96 ERA. The only reason he doesn’t have 11+ wins is due to low run support. In his last two starts he gone 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA. His home numbers are much better then the road and his day numbers are much better then his night starts. I will ignore that in this particular situation. While he lost his only start versus the Dodgers this year he went six innings allowing five hits and only one run. That’s the low run support I touched on earlier. Expect Wandy to be great tonight and for Berkman to continue his red hot streak. This could be a dangerous team. Thursday’s baseball odds show the Dodgers -146 against the Astros with an over/under of 8.5 runs.

The Dodgers are 56-32 on the season which is good enough for the overall best record in baseball to date. They have as well balanced of an offensive attack as any other team. Matt Kemp, Casey Blake, James Loney and Andre Ethier all have 50+ RBIs. Blake has 12 homers, Kemp 11 and Ethier has collected 18. Orlando Hudson made the all-star team as his seven homers, 48 RBIs and .283 BA have helped LA as well. Oh yeah, and then there is the Circus they call Manny Ramirez. So, the fire power and talent is certainly here for them to make a run into October. On the mound tonight is Randy Wolf who is 4-3 with a 3.45 ERA this season. He did not fair well against the Astros this season as he went seven innings allowing four runs on eight hits as the Astros hit .296 off him. In nine home starts this year Wolf is 0-1 with eight no decisions. His ERA at home is 4.04 as opposed to his 2.90 road ERA. Look for him to struggle tonight as he has always seemed to be a very hittable pitcher as long as you have patience at the plate. Berkman, Lee and Tejada all will be very disciplined. With Manny playing his first game at home since his suspension, the crowd will be pumped up. With a depleted bullpen it will be tough if Wolf doesn’t pitch well, which I believe he won’t. Bad spot for Dodger blue tonight.

Haimo’s Hot Notes: The Astros have won their last two series as well as six of their last eight games. The Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 games as they have their last three series. LA is 48-21 in their last 69 home games. In the head to head match up, Houston is 6-2 against the Dodgers in the last eight times they have faced. I love this game tonight. Houston is +125 and has the better pitcher on the mound not to mention is playing a team with no bullpen. Berkman has been on fire while Lee is as dangerous as they come. In life you must take risks, calculated ones though. Tonight I make yet another mark on this business. BEST BET/UNDERDOG SPECIAL, Houston Astros.

Jordan’s Pick: Houston Astros +136 (BEST BET)

I hope everybody enjoyed the All-Star break. We saw Prince Fielder win the home run derby and the American League continue their domination. It’s time to get back to business. A 21 game BEST BET winning streak enters tonight. By tomorrow morning, expect to add one to that number.

Documented MLB Record:

96-63-1 OVERALL
43-19-1 BEST BETS

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