Friday Plays

[Raji]

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies (-113, 10 ½)

If the Rockies are to have any chance at the NL West title, they have to find a way to beat the division-leading L.A. Dodgers. The Rox have lost 18 of the last 24 against the Dodgers, with 10 of those defeats coming at Coors Field.

The teams meet for an all-important four-game series this weekend, but in the opener last night, the Dodger’s domination of Colorado continued in a 5-4 win.

"We have to beat them," Colorado's Matt Holliday told reporters on Thursday. "They are in first place and we have to beat them when we play them."

The Rockies look to ace Josh Fogg to lead them to that much-needed win, but he is 2-4 with a 4.40 ERA in nine outings against the Dodgers and has lost his last four decisions against them.

Pick: Los Angeles +105

Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds (+111, 9 ½)

The Cubs look to bounce back from one of their worst defeats of the season – 11-1 against St. Louis last night – when they take on the Cincinnati Reds today.

Chicago has been in fine form since the All-Star break, winning nine of 12 games to close to within two of the division leading Milwaukee Brewers. But despite the Reds' 44-59 record this season, the Cubs should not expect an easy game tonight.

"Basically, this game's a roller coaster, and you've just got to ride them out – weather the storms," Ken Griffey Jr. told the Associated Press ahead of this series. "We might not be able to make the playoffs, but we can go out and make it tough for other people."

Cincinnati sends Bronso Arroyo to the mound today looking to slow the Cubs charge for the division title, but he has lost both starts against them this year and is on course to have his worst record as a starter this season.

Pick: Cubs –119

Milwaukee Brewers at St. Louis Cardinals (-103, 9 ½)


At 20-29, the Milwaukee Brewers have the worst road record of any division leading team. If they don’t turn it around soon, they could lose top spot in the NL Central to the Chicago Cubs.

The Brewers travel to St Louis on Friday to start a three-game series, having dropped three of their previous four games to the Cincinati Reds – the team with the worst record in the NL.

In the wake of the All-Star break pitching has become a problem for Milwaukee and their staff has posted a 4.49 ERA in 14 games since then. That, combined with their terrible road record, has allowed the Cubs to close what was an eight-game lead at the end of June, down to just two games.

Milwaukee has managed a 3-1 record against the Cardinals this season, but hasn't won a road series against a National League rival since the end of April.

Pick: Cardinals -103

Raji