New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Odds & Picks: July 8th 2009

New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Free MLB Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-144) - Wed July 8th 2009 7:10p
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This series has sweep written all over it. The Dodgers took care of business in Game 1 shutting out the Mets 8-0. Tonight Hiroki Kuroda goes to the mound as LA looks to take advantage again of a beat up New York squad.

The Mets have lost four straight and nine of 11 and have gone scoreless in 22 consecutive innings. Over that span they’ve gotten just 10 hits all singles and they’ve been outscored 21-3. The New York offense has for the most part been MIA since Carlos Beltran went out. They’ve gone 5-10 with a .229 average and scored one run or fewer seven times, including four shutouts. With no Beltran or Jose Reyes in the line-up David Wright is the only real threat remaining and he’s struggling big time. Wright is 0-16 after drawing the collar Tuesday night against the Dodgers.

Tonight the Mets pin their hopes on lefty Oliver Perez who was just called up from Triple A. Perez has been a disaster going 1-2 with a 9.97 ERA. He’s given up 24 runs in 21 innings and has walked 21.

The Dodgers, who lead the majors with a 53-30 record, will counter with the steady Hiroki Kuroda who is 3-4 with a 3.98 ERA. Kuroda has won two of his last three starts striking out 16 while walking two.

Hopefully the umpires will let Manny play a little bit longer tonight. But even if he makes another early exit the Dodgers still have too much for a Mets team that can’t wait for the All-Star Break to get here.