Saturday, April 5, 4:10 PM on FS1, CSBy, SNLA

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California

San Francisco - Bumgarner, M (0-0) vs. Los Angeles - Maholm, P (0-0)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner takes the hill Saturday afternoon to face the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Paul Maholm.   Bumgarner is making his second start of the season while Maholm is getting the unexpected start in place of Josh Beckett.

Madison Bumgarner started the season with a rough outing that saw him surrender 4 runs (none of them earned), 6 hits and 2 walks in just 4 innings.   The Giants got the win but he ended up with no decision.  Bumgarner threw 78 pitches in just 4 innings and that is a pace that he can’t keep up as the season progresses.

Against the Dodgers, Bumgarner should have a chance to improve on his first start.  The Dodgers have not fared well when Bumgarner is on the hill as they have a collective batting average of .179 with just 24 hits in 134 at-bats.  Andre Ethier has seen Bumgarner the most but he is batting .125 with 3 hits and 9 strikeouts in 24 at-bats.

Paul Maholm has already given the Dodgers 1/3 of an inning in relief this season but on Saturday he will get the start.  Last season in Atlanta, Maholm started 26 games, compiling a 10 – 11 record with an ERA of 4.41. In his 9 major league seasons, Maholm has been up and down without much consistency.  LA is expecting to get more work out of him from the bullpen with an occasional start.

Maholm will have to pay close attention to the Giants’ Hunter Pence.  Pence has seen Maholm 49 times and has come away with 15 hits (4 of them doubles), 2 homers and 9 RBIs.

San Francisco Betting Trends

San Francisco is 2-1-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for San Francisco is +0.7

Los Angeles Betting Trends

Los Angeles is 1-4-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Los Angeles is +1.4

Injuries to Watch

San Francisco 

04/03/14 P Tim Lincecum Knee probable
04/02/14 C Buster Posey Rest questionable
03/28/14 2B Marco Scutaro Back 15-day DL (3/21)
03/27/14 P Jeremy Affeldt Knee 15-day DL (3/23)

Los Angeles 

04/02/14 P Brian Wilson Elbow 15-day DL (3/31)
03/29/14 P Clayton Kershaw Back 15-day DL (3/23)
03/28/14 P Josh Beckett Thumb 15-day DL (3/19)
03/28/14 CF Matt Kemp Ankle 15-day DL (3/19)
03/27/14 P Chad Billingsley Elbow 15-day DL (3/19)
03/27/14 P Onelki Garcia Elbow 60-day DL (3/14)
03/27/14 P Scott Elbert Elbow 60-day DL (2/8)

Tony's Pick: Take San Francisco

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