LA Dodgers odds – Vicious lineup should save young pitching staff
Los Angeles Dodgers odds have many bettors excited, as they figure L.A. could end up representing the National League in the World Series.
Last season, the Dodgers were somewhat toiling in mediocrity until they acquired Manny Ramirez, who propelled the team into the playoffs. Sports betting odds for the Dodgers weren’t great in the playoffs but, as we head into the 2009 season, there’s reason to be optimistic in 2009.
Los Angeles Dodgers odds: L.A. is +1400 to win the World Series
- A few breaks could lead to championship success
- Do the Dodgers have enough pitching to win?
- Young batting lineup is among the best in MLB
It didn’t take long—just one offseason to be exact—but the Dodgers have shifted from being one of the best pitching teams in baseball to one of the best hitting teams.
The Dodgers odds for the World Series aren’t great because their pitching staff looks like a little suspect. After losing Derek Lowe and Brad Penny in the offseason, Los Angeles has a lot of innings to replace that the duo provided.
Chad Billingsley will step into the ace’s role while youngsters Clayton Kershaw and Joey McDonald will have to be dependable all season long. In the middle of the pitching rotation are Randy Wolf and Hiroki Kuroda, who are somewhat faded veterans.
While the pitching staff doesn’t invigorate Dodgers betting fans, the bullpen and batting lineup should. The bullpen is still rock solid with Cory Wade working setup and Jonathan Broxton closing. The Dodgers have a reliable back end that will close out any tight contests.
But if you’re going to bet the Dodgers, you might not have to worry about many close games anyway, since Los Angeles has such a strong batting order. Because of the lineup, MLB odds will have the Dodgers as a regular favorite.
The Dodgers re-signed both Manny Ramirez and Rafael Furcal, which is a big boost for a young and burgeoning lineup. Hitters like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and James Loney all developed into reliable hitters with Ramirez in the lineup. Veterans Orlando Hudson and Casey Blake round out the batting order.
If you want to bet on the Dodgers you can also get excited about L.A.’s chances in a weak division, the NL West. The San Diego Padres are in flux right now and will battle with the Colorado Rockies for last place in the division; the Arizona Diamondbacks have solid pitching but questionable hitting, which makes them the Dodgers’ main competitors; the San Francisco Giants are simply mediocre.
The Dodgers are the best team in the NL West and should make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. But for them to go deep, they have to find a way to improve their starting pitching.
For more on Dodgers odds and MLB lines, check out the betonline.com Sportsbook.
Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball.
