Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies: (-115, 9)
Chad Billingsley stars in Part 1 of the Dodgers-Rockies doubleheader today in Colorado.
Los Angeles’ hardest working right-hander has pitched near-perfect baseball in his past four starts. During this stretch he is 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA, adding 32 strikeouts over his past 33 innings of work.
The Dodgers, who open a seven-game road swing today, are currently four games behind the NL West lead and two games out of the wild card. Billingsley’s best efforts have come in enemy territory, where he has posted a 7-2 road record this season with an impressive 2.61 ERA away from Dodger Stadium.
Pick: Dodgers +107
Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics: (-135, 9 ½)
After two rough outings to start the month, Oakland’s Chad Gaudin came out in his last start and showed the familiar form that made him one half of the AL’s best pitching duos earlier in the season.
The A’s righty threw six innings and gave up three earned runs against the Texas Rangers last Thursday night.
"I felt positive toward the outing," Gaudin told reporters. "I felt I was in control. I made some good pitches when I needed to and attacked the zone. I was not working under pressure, just laboring a little bit."
Gaudin has been solid against Seattle, going 1-1 with a 3.45 ERA. He tossed a complete game against the M’s back in late July but came out on the losing end of a 4-3 score.
Pick: Athletics -135
Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres: (-145, 7 ½)
Pittsburgh’s got a secret. A dirty little, left-handed secret.
Southpaw pitcher Tom Gorzelanny is one of the best arms in the National League over the past two months, going 5-1 in his last eight starts. During his past five outings, Gorzelanny is 3-0 with a 3.34 ERA.
In addition to his 14 wins this season, Gorzelanny has been the Bucs' best arm on the road – which is something Pittsburgh needs after losing three straight on their current road swing. He is 8-3 away from home this season with a steady 3.31 road ERA.
Pick: Pirates +137