Dodgers Slumping As Braves Visit

Without an NFL team, there won’t be much NFL betting for the people in Los Angeles to be doing this year so they better hope that their baseball teams can carry the load. While the Angels are on fire in the American League, the Dodgers have been slumping in the National League.

With the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants hot on their tail, the Dodgers will have to keep winning if they plan on making the playoffs.

Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers

Derek Lowe vs Randy Wolf

MLB odds: Dodgers -132

The Los Angeles Dodgers will welcome back a familiar face as Derek Lowe takes the mound against his former club.

The Dodgers have missed Lowe since he signed with Atlanta and the Dodgers main downfall – whether now or in the playoffs – appears to be the lack of front line pitching.

All-Star Chad Billingsley has struggled recently and while youngster Clayton Kershaw has been phenomenal at times for the Dodgers this season, I’m betting management is wondering if he’ll hold up in the playoffs.

At the back end of the Dodgers rotation, pluggers like Randy Wolf and Hiroki Kuroda have pitched well at times but neither is to be expected to dominate in the postseason.

Lowe has been solid for the Braves this year, going 11-7 with a 4.21 ERA. The ERA might seem high but it’s inflated due to two bad starts in June. Minus the two starts where Lowe gave up 13 runs in just 5.1 inning pitched, he has posted an ERA of 3.50 this season, which is very reasonable.

Over his last seven starts, Lowe has allowed 16 earned runs in 41.1 innings pitched (3.50 ERA). He’s faced the Dodgers once this season already and they are batting just .238 against him.

Lowe will take on Wolf, who surprisingly only has five wins on the season. Wolf has also been particularly sharp over his last seven starts, posting an ERA of 3.13 in that span.

Wolf has received poor run support this year, which explains his low win total. The Dodgers have averaged just 4.4 runs per start for Wolf over his last 13 outings.

The Dodgers are 35-19 at home this year but they have won just four times in their last 11 games. With a decent pitching matchup on Thursday, look for them to get back on the winning track.

Betting pick: Dodgers -132