Fridays Best Bets

[Raji]

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks (-111, 9 ½)

The Diamondbacks look to maintain a slim lead in the NL West when they open a three-game series against the struggling Dodgers tonight. Arizona has won six of its last 10 games, but has seen its lead cut to a half-game by the surging San Diego Padres.

The visit from Los Angeles does not offer Arizona much of a reprieve. Granted, the Dodgers have lost five straight heading into today, but they have always performed above average at Chase Field, and are 5-1 in their last six games there. Just last week the Dodgers took two of three from the D-Backs in Phoenix.

Los Angeles, outscored 33-19 in its last five games, turns to Andre Ethier as it looks to break out of its offensive slump. The Phoenix native went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs on Thursday, and is batting .390 with two homers and seven RBIs against the Diamondbacks this season.

Pick: Dodgers +103

Houston Astros at St. Louis Cardinals (-115, 9)

The Cardinals will try to bounce back from an embarrassing 18-1 loss to the Astros as they continue a four-game series at Busch Stadium tonight. St. Louis has lost 13 of its last 15 games and is only two away from elimination in the NL Central.

Houston rookie J.R. Towles, who was among the September callups, had four hits and drove in a franchise-record eight runs in last night’s win. In fact, the Astros set season highs for both runs and hits (23) on their way to a second consecutive victory.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals have now lost eight of their last 10 and rank 13th in the NL in staff ERA (5.49) this month, and the same in batting average (.262).

Pick: Astros +107

Philadelphia Phillies at Washington Nationals (+103, 9)

Nobody can doubt the Phillies resolve in the face of intense pressure. Last night they produced their major league-leading 47th come-from-behind victory, by beating Washington 7-6 after falling four runs behind in the third inning.

Philadelphia has now won seven of its last eight games to close the gap in the NL East from seven games on Sept. 12, to just 1 ½ games behind the New York Mets heading into today’s action.

The Phillies are second in the NL in runs scored this month (112 in 19 games) and today they face a Washington club that has lost six of its last nine games, with its pitching staff posting a 5.92 ERA in that time.

Pick: Phillies -111

Raji