MLB Match-Up Saturday – New Dodger Manny Ramirez the focus of NL West battle

New Dodger Manny Ramirez

by T.J. Kendrick

Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers – Saturday, August 2 at 10:10 p.m. ET

The Arizona Diamondbacks (56-52) are on a bit of a roll, having won eight of their last 10 games, including three straight in which they allowed just four runs. But all the talk in this series will be heavily concentrated on Manny Ramirez.

The Hall of Fame-worthy slugger was grabbing headlines this week after being dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers (54-54) at the trade deadline. He should inject instant offense into a weak Dodgers lineup that’s struggled to produce much power.

Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have played well this season, hitting 11 and 12 homers, respectively. But they don’t bring the same presence to the middle of the order that Ramirez will. He’ll command respect from pitchers, not only doing damage with his bat but offering “protection” for players like Kemp and Ethier. Expect L.A. to rise from its second-last ranking in National League homers.

Hiroki Kuroda (5-8) will hope to benefit from Ramirez’s presence, as he’s Saturday’s starting pitcher for Los Angeles. The righty enjoyed a solid start to his Major League Baseball career, going 5-6 with a 3.43 ERA before the All-Star break. The wheels have come off since; he’s produced a stomach-churning 13.11 ERA in three starts since then.

Worse yet, the Diamondbacks have owned him this season. Kuroda has allowed 17 hits and 10 runs (seven earned) in just 7.2 career innings against Arizona. Things could get ugly.

The Diamondbacks will turn to Yusmeiro Petit (1-1). He’s been very good in limited action this season, notching a 2.55 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 11 appearances (although only two of those were starts, the last of which came July 22 against the Chicago Cubs―a 9-2 Dodgers win).

Petit has never started a game against L.A., though he has thrown five relief innings, surrendering five hits and two earned runs.

Arizona is playing well right now and has won six of its last 10 games against the Dodgers. Throw in the fact that Kuroda has melted down against the D-backs this season and an Arizona win is likely.

For more props and odds, visit BetOnline.com. BetOnline.com is a top rated online sportsbook providing reliable sports betting to millions of online betting customers. BetOnline.com also offers MLB football betting, live MLB betting lines, props and futures.