in MLB Free Picks

The Padres will send out future hall-of-famer Greg Maddux on Saturday night as they travel to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres are going to need Maddux to do exceptionally well in this game. There is no way this team will be ready to play the D’Backs after an 18 inning slug-fest versus the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on Thursday night. They travel to Phoenix on Friday to face Danny Haren. Then, they have to play on Saturday. The Thursday night game ended well after midnight. Haren should shut them down Friday night. Maddux, luckily, didn’t pitch in that Thursday night game. He was terrific against the Dodgers in his last start. So far this season, Maddux is 2 and 0 with a 2.00 ERA. He’s allowed only 11 hits in three games.

The D’Backs will counter with Edgar Gonzales. Gonzales is actually one of the few pitchers on the D’Backs roster that opposing batters can get to. The Padres, after their all-nighter versus the Rockies and facing Haren on Friday, will be happy to see Edgar Gonzales. Gonzales isn’t a terrible pitcher, but he’s not a shut-down guy either. In eight innings of work this season, Gonzales has given up 11 hits, 4 runs and 1 home-run. He’s struck out 5 batters in those eight innings. So, there is something to his game.

Here are my personal wager lines for this game.

San Diego Padres

Greg Maddux – R - 1 ½ + 125 - 145 O 6 ½

Arizona Diamondbacks

Edgar Gonzales – R + 1 ½ - 135 + 165 U 6 ½

I don’t see how Maddux won’t be the favorite in this game. As good as the Diamondbacks have been this year, Maddux has been better. He’s definitely got the touch going early in the season.

But the Padres have serious issues when it comes to run support. They have one of the best rotations in baseball. Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux, and Chris Young will shut down opposing pitchers most nights. Peavy went eight innings in that crazy Thursday night game and only allowed four hits.

But without true run support, the Padres have become a difficult team to wager on. Unless, of course, you concentrate on the BetUS over/under.

The BetUS over/under should be close to 6 ½ runs. If that’s the case, then I would definitely go with the under.

A tired ball-club like the Padres, who have trouble hitting anyhow, will find the going tough in the Phoenix night. Maddux should do his part by shutting down the D’Backs.

I like the BetUS under in this game at 6 ½ or less.

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