Giants Dodgers Betting - World Series Champions Open Title Defense In Hollywood

The 2011 World Series champions will initiate defense of their title when they travel north to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day. In other years, the San Francisco Giants would be considered heavy favorites with their ace and Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum on the mound, but in the wake of a couple of tough spring training performances, it is difficult to determine whether the 26-year old is ready for the regular season.

San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers

Lincecum struggled with his command in his second-to-last start before the season opener, giving up five runs in 2.2 innings of work before hitting the showers. Lincecum will match up against the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw, who at 23-years old represents the future of the Los Angeles franchise.

MLB Betting Preview: Giants

While there is usually somewhat of a hangover for champions early on the next year, a World Series title hasn’t slowed down San Francisco at all heading into this season. The Giants ranked among the best teams in Cactus League play this spring, and will look to carry over that momentum into their MLB betting series with the Dodgers as they open their defense. The San Francisco offense will once again rely on the bats of Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey, especially with Freddy Sanchez still working his way back to form. Several players including Sanchez and Cody Ross picked up their play tremendously in the postseason, and the Giants will need them to push forward and not take a step back.

MLB Betting Preview: Dodgers

Kershaw set several career-best marks as a 22-year old in the National League, and the Dodgers will rely on his continued improvement going forward this season. He cut down his walks per inning and that helped him stay in games longer, allowing him to increase his win total by five. Kershaw will need to be at his best to help overcome an offense that is lacking firepower. Matt Kemp is the stud of a group that still needs to prove it can get the sports betting bonus job done, but he will need help from Andre Ethier among others. Closer Jonathan Broxton was among the strongest closers in the game two years ago, and Los Angeles is banking on that he can get back to the highest level.

MLB Betting: Matchup & Pick

While the Dodgers are severely lacking the offensive punch that most contenders rely on, their offense isn’t much worse than San Francisco’s, which means that this game will come down to pitching. In most cases it would be Lincecum that got the nod as the favorite, but with the Cy Young award winner struggling through spring and Kershaw hitting his stride, it’s the Dodgers that get the edge to take the opening day game.

MLB Betting Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers