MLB Betting Odds: Dodgers and Giants on ESPN

Jonathan Sanchez is still looking for his first win against the Dodgers.

Two old National League rivals complete their latest meeting on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles, barring a miracle, is destined to watch the postseason from the comforts of home, a disappointment for Joe Torre and his troops after reaching the NLCS the past two Octobers.  San Francisco is still very much in the hunt for a slot in the Senior Circuit playoffs, entering play Saturday three games out of the NL West lead and the same distance behind the Phillies for the wild card.

However, the Giants have failed to take full advantage of the recent struggles by the Padres.  San Diego went into their Saturday date with the Rockies with an eight-straight losses.  San Francisco has dropped five games in the same stretch, and is 14-15 since Aug. 1.

Friday's series opener went the way of the Dodgers, 4-2, as Chad Billingsley worked eight, two-hit innings and broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with a single that plated a pair.  Los Angeles was a 145 favorite on the money line and it was the fourth time this season Billingsley matched up against San Fran lefty Barry Zito who dropped his fourth consecutive start.

The final score marked the ninth time in 13 head-to-head meetings this season that the home team brought home the bacon. Los Angeles is 5-2 at home with the Giants 4-2 at AT&T where the two squads will meet again in less than two weeks.

Game 2 was still pending with Ted Lilly and the Dodgers minus 125 against Matt Cain and the Giants.  Saturday's MLB odds total was an even seven.

Sunday's finale pits San Francisco lefty Jonathan Sanchez (16-11, 3.54) opposite Hiroki Kuroda (14-12, 3.39) for the Dodgers.  Game time is set for 5 p.m. PT.

Sanchez will be making his second start of the season against LA to go with his lone relief appearance of 2010.  He dropped an 8-2 matinee affair in San Francisco at the end of June, surrendering five runs and a pair of homers in five innings as a small 110 'dog.  Sanchez has never recorded a win over Los Angeles on his personal ledger, and owns a hefty 8.78 ERA in three career assignments at Dodger Stadium.

Kuroda has strung together five consecutive quality starts and will be facing the Giants for a first time this campaign.  He beat San Francisco twice in 2009, with both starts at AT&T Park.  One of those outings was on Aug. 10, 2009, against Sanchez.  Kuroda worked into the seventh of that contest, allowing a solo shot to Travis Ishikawa for the only score against him.  The Dodgers closed minus 120 at the baseball betting window in that matchup.

A veteran of 17 MLB seasons and among the umpires who enjoy the spotlight of national telecasts, Angel Hernandez is in line for plate duty.  Visiting teams have cashed 19 of his previous 30 dish assignments, 11 of 20 when the underdogs.  Hernandez' MLB betting record for 'totals' is an even 13-13-3.

Los Angeles weathermen are forecasting a nice day with sunny skies and an afternoon high reaching the low-80s.  There should be a SSE breeze around 5-8 mph, blowing from the 1B on-deck circle out to left-center.  Check back here at DonBest.com for updates as first pitch draws nearer.

The Dodgers take off after this contest on a 10-game road trip that starts in San Diego  on Monday before proceeding to Houston and back to San Francisco.  The Giants will continue their roadie with three in Arizona beginning Monday before a four-game set next weekend in San Diego.

NOTE: W-L records displayed for starting pitchers are team records in games the pitchers start.