15 October 2009
Preview By Tipster Jumbo (New Zealand)
Kershaw has been called into action for this Opening match of the NLCS, Kershaw gave up some hits in his last start but not to many and he has been the Dodgers best starter all season long over the first 5 Innings of his games, In Game 2 of the last Series Kershaw had a great start going 6.1 innings whilst giving up 2 earned on 9 hits, he also walked a batter and a Home Run, In his career starting against the Phillies Hamels side is 1-3 and he was was 0-2 against the Phillies in the regular season and has led the Dodgers to losses in his last 3 starts against them, Also 3 of Kershaws Career starts against the Dodgers have been against Hamels, In their first meeting in LA in 2008 the Dodgers won the game 4-3.
Hamel’s is up in Game 1 and his bad season continued I Game 2 of the NLDS as he threw 5 Innings of work and allowed 4 Earned on 7 hits with no walks, He left the game with an era of 7.20, Career wise and Hamel’s has led his side in 6 starts against the Dodgers to 4 wins and 2 losses, He went great in his lone start at LA this season going 9 Innings and giving up no runs in a 3-0 Phillies Win, Hamels has led his side to wins in 4 of his last 5 starts against the Dodgers and has led them to Wins in his last 2 starts in LA.
These two matched up in a big game not to long ago in which both starters were dominant holding either side to little with the Phillies finally getting up 3-0, Kershaw has been solid of late and can throw, I rate him and Billingsley as the strongest starters that the Dodgers have which doesn’t bode well for the Dodgers in a Series up against Hamels, Lee and even Happ, so this switch of starter is an Important switch because to be honest about it, I reckon that Torre knows that his side are up against it here in all faceits of this Series and there fore has gone with his most consistant opening 5 Innings guy on his pitching Roster who is Kershaw, Torre is looking for a win here and it’s only Game 1 of this Series a defining move from the Dodger Manager to get his side off on the front foot and take out this Game.
I’m going to actually trust Hamels today to keep the Dodgers quiet and then hopefully the Phillies can get a lead, this game has really changed now and in many ways for me at least especially with Padilla and Wolf set to start in Games 2 and 4 then I view this as a real move from the Dodgers to win this game, Kershaw will hold them in it, the Question is can the Dodgers take it, that’s the Question and I don’t know if they can, the Phillies come in here confident and ready for action, at some stage the Phillies will get into this Dodgers bullpen no matter how long Kershaw is in for and from then even if the Phillies are only marginally behind they are still alive in the contest at least.
I know that I said that I don’t trust Hamels but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt here as for me a lot has changed in this game now and it has gone from being the Opening Game of a Series into perhaps the match for it, the Dodgers need Kershaw to perform and I reckon he will, the problem will be if Hamels does as well, For some reason something is telling me to go with the Phillies in this opening game even with Hamels on the hill for them and so I will….Stake it low and enjoy Game 1….Good Luck.
Pick : Phillies WIN Odds : 2.30 Stake : 8 / 10 Bookmaker : Pinnacle
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