MLB Friday Preview: A's at Pirates, Dodgers at Padres
May 3rd, 2019
Oakland Athletics (14-19) at Pittsburgh Pirates (14-14), 7:05 p.m. ET
Brett Anderson (3-2, 4.35 ERA) (OAK) EVEN / +1.5 runs (-200) / Over 8 runs (-105) Joe Musgrove (1-2, 1.54 ERA) (PIT) -110 / -1.5 runs (+165) / Under 8 runs (-115)Joe Musgrove has had a fine first five starts for the Pirates, but wins have been hard to come by because of Pittsburgh's lackluster offense. However, Musgrove should get some early run support, as Brett Anderson takes the hill for the Athletics at PNC Park on Friday night.
Anderson, who left a start prematurely April 21 with an ankle injury, returned six days later and got shelled for six runs on 10 hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. His opponent batting average in his last 20 road appearances is .321, so that effort was hardly a fluke. Pirates outfielder Melky Cabrera, who is 4-for-7 lifetime against Anderson, boasts a team-high average of .341 going into Friday and has reached base safely in nine straight games. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds has given Pittsburgh's offense a much-needed shot in the arm since being called up April 20, with 12 hits in his first 29 at-bats.
MLB Free Play: Pirates moneyline
Los Angeles Dodgers (20-13) at San Diego Padres (18-14), 10:10 p.m. ET
Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 2.25 ERA) (LAD) -150 / -1.5 runs (+115) / Over 7.5 runs (+105) Eric Lauer (2-3, 4.41 ERA (SD) +135 / +1.5 runs (-135) / Under 7.5 runs (-125)Expect plenty of zeroes to be put up on the Petco Park scoreboard Friday night, as Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers take on Eric Lauer and the Padres.
Kershaw is 6-0 with a 0.72 ERA in his last seven starts against San Diego. The Padres' starting outfield of Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe and Wil Myers have just nine hits between them in 55 at-bats (.164) against the ace.
Lauer was 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA in three starts against L.A. in 2018, his rookie year. Even the otherworldly Cody Bellinger, the frontrunner for NL MVP with a 1.367 OPS through 32 games, might struggle Friday night.
MLB Free Play: Under
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