The Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers begin an MLB betting four-game series, which may or may not be the best thing that’s happened to the Marlins in a while.
Time: 10:10 PM
Venue: Dodger Stadium
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on baseball:
Marlins +1½ (-135) 8 (EV) +172
Dodgers -1½ (+115) 8 (-120) -182
Miami
On the mound: Edinson Volquez (RHP, 0-5, 4.41 ERA) recovered from a thumb blister (does that mean the blister doesn’t exist?) and returned with a blistering 96.1 mph fastball versus the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. The Dominican has stroke out 37 in 34 2/3 innings and is 0-3 with a 4.58 ERA on the road. Though Volquez has yet to record his first win since signing a two-year contract as a free agent in December, his strikeout rate has increased to 23.6% this season, which can be attributed to the way he finishes off hitters. In two-strike counts, 25.2% of his pitches have produced a K, the highest rate of his career and a marked progress from his 16.4 percentage last year.
At bat: Several Marlins are adept at hitting lefties, such as third baseman Derek Dietrich, catcher J.T. Realmuto, and center fielder Marcell Ozuna. Giancarlo Stanton had three homers at LA in a four-game set last year, with an average exit velocity of 104.4 mph.
Recent form: The Marlins have won only one of their last nine games and are 3-13 in May. On the other hand, Miami has beaten the Dodgers in six of their last seven meetings – including a four-game sweep at Dodger Stadium a year ago.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The MLB betting total has gone under in 80% of the Marlins’last five against LAD.
What a relief: Reliever Brad ‘Dolph’Ziegler allowed one run on seven hits in 12 2/3 innings in April but has surrendered 12 runs – 11 earned – on 13 hits in 3 2/3 innings in May. Ziegler has been getting weak contact, but his average exit velocity against has jumped from 81.4 mph to 85.9. He has been behind in the count more often, 18.2% last month to 35.2% this month.
Los Angeles
On the mound: Hyun-Jin Ryu (LHP, 1-5, 4.99 ERA) allowed 10 runs – five earned – on eight hits and walked six in four innings in his first start following a brief stay on the DL against the Rockies a week ago. The South Korean will be pitching for his spot on the rotation, what with Kenta Maeda looming in the horizon. Ryu is 1-1 with a 3.97 ERA in two home starts; much better than his 0-4 record with a 5.59 ERA away from Dodger Stadium.
At bat: Outfielder Joc Pederson hit two home runs versus Miami last year, recording an average exit velocity of 97.5 mph on 12 balls.
Recent form: LAD are 13-6 in the last 19 and 4-1 in the last five at home, but have lost their last five visits to Miami.
Trends for fans who bet on baseball: The MLB betting total has gone over in 80% of the Dodgers’last 10 times hosting the Marlins.