Sportsbook Handicappers Wary of Taking the Dodgers. The Los Angeles Dodgers are in danger of falling out of the playoff picture in the National League and handicappers at the sportsbook are taking notice.
The Dodgers have not played well since the All-Star break and there are not many positive signs that they will turn things around. The Dodgers still get respect in baseball odds at the Internet sportsbook but they are not the same team they were a year ago.Sportsbook odds this weekend will favor the Dodgers for the most part in their series against the New York Mets. It is important for the Dodgers that they start winning because they have fallen behind three other teams in the division. It is much more difficult to win a division when you have to catch three teams rather than just one. The games coming up next week could decide if the Dodgers stay in the race. They are at San Diego for three games and then at San Francisco for three. If they have a really bad road trip they can probably kiss their chances of making the playoffs good bye.
The Dodgers have a number of issues on and off the field. They have an ownership issue since the McCourt’s are going through a divorce. Their manager Joe Torre is almost certainly not going to be back next season. Manny Ramirez is on the DL and he has not hit this season. And the starting rotation for Los Angeles has some major holes.
The Dodgers have a good enough offense to win as they are 8th in the league in runs scored at 4.67 per game. The problem for the Dodgers has been the pitching. When was the last time you remember a Los Angeles team that had an ERA that was 19th in the league? The Dodgers are giving up over 4 runs per game and that is just not going to win games on a consistent basis in the National League. The Dodgers have to contend with three other teams in the division that have stronger pitching. San Diego has the top staff in the league while the Giants are not far behind and Colorado has the best pitcher in the league in Ubaldo Jimenez. It all adds up to major troubles for the Dodgers in the National League West.