MLB Picks: May 23rd 2012
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers +103
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The Dodgers refuse to slow down as they have now won six straight games to improve to 30-13 on the season and increase their lead to a commanding seven games over the Giants in the National League West with every other teams at least 11.5 games back. They have been dominant at home with a 19-4 record but three straight road wins have put them over .500 on the road and at this price, we are getting more value. Los Angeles has won six straight games as an underdog.

The Diamondbacks had lost 10 of 12 games before putting together a modest 4-2 run but they have dropped the first two games of this series as the pitching has been hammered both games. That has been the case a lot this season as Arizona has a 4.23 ERA and that balloons to 5.19 in its home games which is the second worst in baseball. The Diamondbacks are just 7-14 at home this season and this came after a 4-0 start so things have certainly gone south in Arizona.

The Dodgers send Ted Lilly to the mound and while he has had two very strong years with Los Angeles, his third year has been sensational so far. He is 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in seven starts with six of those being quality outings. He has allowed one run or fewer in five of those games and going back to last season, he has allowed three runs or fewer in eight consecutive road starts. Also going back, the Dodgers are 8-0 in his last eight starts against teams with a losing record.

The Diamondbacks counter with Joe Saunders who has already a roller coaster type of year. He opened with five straight quality outings before allowing six runs in consecutive starts against the Cardinals and Giants. He bounced back with a quality game last time out against the Royals but is now back home where his ERA is a horrible 6.04 thanks to those two bad outings. He has had mild success against the Dodgers but Arizona lost all three of his home starts against the dodgers last season. 3* (915) Los Angeles Dodgers -Matt Fargo