StatFox.com - Sports Handicapping Community

The Leader In Sports Handicapping

Struggling Giants host Dodgers on Wednesday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 4/26/2017  at  6:37:00 AM
  Print This Article    

LOS ANGELES DODGERS (10-11)

at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (7-14)

First pitch: Wednesday, 10:15 p.m. ET
Line: Los Angeles -110, San Francisco +100, Total: 7.0

Both the Dodgers and Giants can really use a win when the teams clash on Wednesday.

The Dodgers have a chance to get back to .500 on Wednesday and they will be feeling confident in their ability to do just that. Los Angeles is facing a San Francisco team that is really struggling right now, and the Dodgers did beat them 2-1 on Tuesday. Los Angeles has gotten some stellar starting pitching in recent games, allowing only four earned runs total over the past three games. The Dodgers will be hoping that LHP Alex Wood (1-0, 3.29 ERA, 14 K) can keep that going for them on Wednesday, as he’ll be making another start for the Dodgers in place of the injured Rich Hill (1-1, 3.38 ERA, 7 K). Starting for the Giants in this one will be RHP Johnny Cueto (3-1, 5.25 ERA, 19 K). Cueto has a good record this season, but he has not pitched the way he is capable of just yet. He’ll be hoping to figure it out in this start, which is the same thing that can be said for the whole San Francisco team. The Giants have dug themselves a major hole early on and know that they need to put together a winning streak sooner rather than later. One trend that does bode well for the Giants is that they are 10-0 against the money line versus teams that average 0.9 homers per game or fewer over the past two seasons when Cueto is on the hill. There are some significant injuries that are worth noting for these teams, though. OF Joc Pederson (Groin) and 2B Logan Forsythe (Toe) are on the DL for Los Angeles. For San Francisco, SS Brandon Crawford (Groin) is out indefinitely, and OF Denard Span (Shoulder) is questionable.

Alex Wood is going to be on the mound for the Dodgers on Wednesday and the hope is that he is now stretched out a bit more as a starter. Wood has not yet thrown 80 pitches in a single start, but that is something that Los Angeles is hoping he can begin doing shortly. The lefty has, however, been productive in his innings. He allowed one or fewer earned runs in three straight appearances before letting up four earned runs in 4.2 innings of work against Arizona on Apr. 21. If he can allow three or fewer earned runs in five or so innings of work on Wednesday then he will have done his job for his team. Offensively, three games that are worth pointing out in this game are SS Corey Seager (.312 BA, 3 HR, 15 RBI), 3B Justin Turner (.352 BA, 0 HR, 7 RBI), and 2B Chase Utley (.034 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI). The three of them are a combined 24-for-72 with two homers and five RBI against Cueto in their careers. Utley, however, is no guarantee to be in the lineup for this one, as he has really struggled out the gate in 2017.

Johnny Cueto has had a rough season thus far, and one of his biggest issues has been control. Cueto has walked two or more batters in three of his four starts this year, and he has also given opposing hitters too many poorly placed pitches. Cueto’s control issues have forced him to groove some pitches over the middle of the plate, and that has caused him to give up five homers on the year. He’ll need to keep his pitches down and do a better job of attacking early in counts. One guy that should be able to provide some run support for Cueto is C Buster Posey (.360 BA, 1 HR, 3 RBI). Posey has done some serious damage against Alex Wood in his career, going 4-for-7 with two doubles and three RBI. It’d be big if he can have a solid day at the plate in this one. OF Hunter Pence (.312 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBI) will also be somebody to keep an eye on, as he is 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI against Wood.


FoxSheets.com
The FoxSheets - the most advanced sports handicapping information available on the internet.
Sign up for professional sports betting information including fantastic trends, and Free FoxSheets.
E-mail: