MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers at Miami Marlins
Dodgers Bring Best Record in MLB to Miami
Our Dodgers play Marlins 2017 MLB free pick features the team with the best record in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers (61-29 Overall, 22-18 Away), at a club that is having a middling season, the Miami Marlins (41-46 Overall, 21-21 Home). The Dodgers lead the NL West by 7.5 games, have won nine of their last 10, and bring a six-game winning streak to tonight’s game. The Marlins are third in the NL East, 10.5 games behind the Nationals, and won three straight prior to the All-Star break by sweeping the San Francisco Giants. LA is -108 for the game while Miami is at +100.
Pitching
Right-hander Brandon McCarthy (6-3, 3.12 ERA) gets the nod for the Dodgers, while Dan Straily (7-4, 3.31 ERA) goes to the mound for the Marlins. On 21, whch was when McCarthy last faced Miami, he allowed one run on three hits while walking one over six innings. In two appearances versus the Marlins, he is 2-0 with an ERA of 0.60.
On July 7, Straily (7-4, 3.31 ERA) offered one of the best outings of his career as he went 8 1/3 innings against the Giants. In that game, he allowed four hits, one walk and one run in a 6-1 win. He’s been pitching well through June and into July, posting a 2.35 ERA and striking out 8.3 batters for every walk allowed. In four games versus the Dodgers, Straily is 1-1 with a 7.20 ERA. He did get a win against LA this season as at Dodger Stadium he gave up three runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Hitting
The Dodgers have excellent homerun potential, as their batters have smacked 127 round trippers this season. That’s sixth in MLB. They’ve scored 463 runs, which is second in the NL, and allowed 300 runs, putting them first in MLB. Their run differential of +163 is best in baseball. In other words, the Marlins will be dealing with a team that can certainly hit and, also, pitch. Cody Bellinger tops the team in homers (25) and RBI (58), while Corey Seager is first in batting average (.298), OBP (.395), and hits (89). Five other players besides Bellinger are in double digits in homers. LA has 10 players who have hit 10 or more doubles with Seager topping that list at 22.
Miami is 19th in MLB in homers with 104, but they do have a few guys who are solid homerun threats. Included is the guy leading the team in round trippers, Giancarlo Stanton (26). Marcel Ozuna has 23 and Justin Bour (20). Ozuna tops the team in most offensive categories with a .316 BA, 70 RBI, and 107 H. He also has an OBP of .374. The team is 14th in runs scored (410) and 13th in runs allowed (396) for a differential of -14. This is not a bad team, but nor is it a great team. The Marlins are mediocre. They will have their work cut out for them in this game.
Dodgers Play Marlins 2017 MLB Free Pick
We can certainly see the Marlins taking down LA tonight when they meet at 7:05 p.m. E.T. We expect a close, low-scoring game. Despite the potential, we like LA at -108. That our Dodgers play Marlins 2017 MLB free pick.
Dodgers Play Marlins 2017 MLB Free Pick: LA Dodgers at -108
