Dodgers big underdogs, even with Manny’s bat

Before the arrival of Manny Ramirez, the Los Angeles Dodgers were a lackluster team without much punch in their lineup.

Ramirez went on a hitting tear and lifted the Dodgers into the playoffs, where they seem to have only a puncher's chance to knock out the Chicago Cubs, the National League's top team.

The Dodgers are the biggest underdogs in the four division series that begin today and Thursday.

The Cubs are minus-220 favorites to take the best-of-5 series against the Dodgers, who won the West Division but finished with the NL's eighth-best record at 84-78.

"I can't see the Dodgers winning that series," Las Vegas Hilton sports book manager Ed Salmons said. "The Cubs just seem to be better at everything.

"But it's such a short series, anything can happen. These things go so fast. There's hope, and then it's goodbye."

The Dodgers are now a dangerous team, though, and Ramirez is the reason. He led the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, and his nine weeks in Los Angeles have been remarkable. In 53 games since being traded July 31, Ramirez batted .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs.

The Cubs won five of seven games against the Dodgers this season, but Ramirez played in none of those games.

Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.96 ERA) faces the Dodgers' Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24 ERA) in today's opener at Wrigley Field, where Dempster is 14-3 this season. The Cubs are minus-155 favorites.

Lowe could set the tone for the series. In five September starts, he went 3-0 and allowed two earned runs in 30 1/3 innings.

In the other NL series, the Philadelphia Phillies are minus-185 favorites to eliminate the Milwaukee Brewers, who plan to start ace left-hander CC Sabathia in Games 2 and 5.

The Hilton made the Cubs 3-1 favorites to win the World Series, followed by the American League trio of Boston, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Angels at 4-1.

"There are some good matchups and a lot of popular teams," Salmons said. "It looks great from a booking point of view because we're going to have a ton of action on it.

"If the Cubs can win one round of the playoffs, it gets so big."

The Angels, who finished with baseball's best record at 100-62, are minus-130 favorites in the series against the Red Sox. The Angels won eight of nine games against Boston, which will start ace Josh Beckett in Game 3.

John Lackey (12-5, 3.75 ERA) opposes Red Sox lefty Jon Lester (16-6, 3.21 ERA) in today's opener, with the Angels slight home favorites.

If Tuesday's one-game playoff to decide the AL Central is an indication of what's to come, the postseason should be dramatic. The Chicago White Sox claimed the final playoff spot with a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

The Tampa Bay Rays, who won the AL East, opened as minus-155 favorites over the White Sox in a series that begins Thursday.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.