New York vs. LA is a rivalry on so many different levels that a matchup in the Baseball Odds Preview action is just one of several possibilities. Further you can even separate that sporting feud into a National League face off or an American League battle. But in this case it involves the NL as the New York Mets travel to left coast to take on the LA Dodgers in battle of two talented teams trying to remain relevant in the baseball betting odds playoff race.
New York started off the MLB odds action this year white hot by climbing to the top of the NL East and looking like the team everyone expected them to be with their gargantuan payroll and talented roster. But as July draws to a close the team finds itself trailing the Atlanta Braves by 6.5 games and just three games above .500 (49-46). This is not exactly where it had hoped to be at this point of the Baseball Odds Preview odds season.
The Dodgers (50-45), perennial cock of the walk in the NL West have also seen their fortunes decline this season as they’ve gone from first place to fourth place over the span of the season trialing the San Diego Padres, of all teams, by 6.0 games.
Both of these teams need to make up ground in the Baseball Odds Preview betting odds in a hurry and from here on out every series and every game counts. With each loss these teams’ chances of making the MLB odds playoff action decreases every so slightly.
On Friday when these two teams meet up the matchup is wide open. New York will send its ace Johan Santana (7-5, 2.87) to the mound. Santana is pitching as well as ever but this season, like every season he’s been in New York, he hasn’t been getting the run support he needs. Further, the Mets are an awful road team (19-30) and he’ll face an uphill battle trying to get a win in LA.
Vincente Padilla (4-2, 3.65 ERA) will throw for the Dodgers and he’s been on a tear of a late winning four of his past five starts and allowing just three runs over that span.
Look for the hometown Dodgers to get the victory on the baseball betting odds.