The Dodgers club is #1 in ERA during day games and they are 17-12. Chris Capuano is going on 5 days rest which is a good thing because he's been solid when he has had the extra rest. In his 3 day starts he has a 0.47 ERA. His main issue all year has been his ability to get guys out when there are runners on base as he has a 65.9% LOB. Cubs are 21st in OPS with runners on and last in average. Those are good mix of results because the three starts he struggled in on 5 days rest were against 3 teams who were top 10 in OPS with runners on. His other 4 starts he posted a 0.69 ERA. Over the last two years Capuano has allowed just 8 hits 1 ER in 14 IP vs. the Cubs. and he's backed by a bullpen that is strong 2.48 ERA last 10 games and 2.33 ERA over their last 3 apperances for each reliever.
Cubs do send the talented Jeff Samardija to the mound, but in 50 AB the Dodgers have a .964 OPS led by Hanley Ramirez who is 8-15 against him. Jeff has not pitched well at home with a 4.90 ERA and this is his 3rd start in a row on 4 days rest meaning it's his 4th start in the last 16 days and he's been over 100 pitches in all of those starts. In his last 6 starts on 4 days rest he has a 5.12 ERA and it seems like he's wearing down a bit. Facing the Dodgers who just continue to win will be a tough task.
So the Pirates lost two in a row at home. Well I bet they get back on track today in a big way. That was only the third time all year they lost 2 in a row at home and they are 3-0 after outscoring opponents 14-5. I'm taking the run line because I think we have a big advantage on the mound here today. Rockies are also 5-13 after a win this year on the road. They also struggle against left handed pitching where they are managing just 2.53 runs per 9 away from Coors. Francisco Liriano has reinvented himself in Pittsburgh where he posts a 1.61 ERA. He's backed by an excellent bullpen but he should be able to go 7 strong innings.
On the flip side Pittsburgh has hit lefties well all year and are scoring 6.11 runs per 9 over their last 10. Jorge De La Rosa has been a pretty decent consistent pitcher, but always lacks going deep into games. He's got a few things working against him here today. This will be his 11th start on 4 days rest on the season. He's had just 3 of them go over 6 innings. This is also the first time he'll be on this 3rd start in a row on 4 days rest so I don't think he'll go deep into the game. Pitt has a .800 OPS against him in 57 AB and the Rockies bullpen has a 6.46 ERA over their last 10 games. Rockies are 14-41 in their last 55 road games as a dog +151 or greater and 4-10 in De La Rosa's last 14 as a road dog.
