Bettors exploit Dodgers’ dysfunction

If the Los Angeles Dodgers' season were turned into a Hollywood script, Matt Kemp would be cast in the Clint Eastwood role.

In one of my favorite movies, "Every Which Way But Loose," Eastwood plays Philo Beddoe, a brawler who beats up the entire Black Widows motorcycle gang with little or no help.

Kemp is attempting to do something similar. But one player can't consistently win baseball games by himself, and that's why the Dodgers are in the dumpster just past the season's midpoint.

Kemp, voted a National League All-Star starter in the outfield, is roughing up pitchers with a .323 batting average, 22 home runs and 66 RBIs. On top of the power, his speed has produced 26 steals. It might be tough for him to keep up that pace, however.

"I don't know why Kemp even sees a strike anymore. They should pitch to him like Barry Bonds," said Dave Cokin, a longtime Las Vegas handicapper and ESPN Radio host.

The Dodgers' losing streak reached five games Wednesday, when they failed as home favorites against the New York Mets, and they slipped 12 games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.

"Going against the Dodgers has been money," VegasInsider.com handicapper Bruce Marshall said. "This thing just keeps getting worse and worse."

Ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw is the only Dodgers starter who is difficult to bet against. Kershaw was a minus-150 favorite Thursday and pitched the Dodgers to a 6-0 victory over the Mets in Los Angeles.

Cokin goes as far as to say the Dodgers (38-51) might have a "home-field disadvantage" because of all the negativity surrounding the team, and their 20-27 home record supports the theory. The Dodgers are minus-1601 units on the money line this season, including minus-1191 units at home.

Owner Frank McCourt has steered the organization into bankruptcy, general manager Ned Colletti has pulled the wrong strings and first-year manager Don Mattingly is learning on the job.

Chad Billingsley, the No. 2 starter, is a keeper, as is right fielder Andre Ethier, who is hitting but not for power. But first baseman James Loney and just about every other player could be trade bait.

In a recent game, the Dodgers started an infield of Loney, Jamey Carroll, Dee Gordon, Aaron Miles and Barney Fife. OK, so Barney wasn't in the lineup, but he would have fit in with those guys.

"The lineup is just a bunch of spare parts around Kemp, Ethier and Loney," Marshall said, and what he forgot to mention is the bullpen has broken down, too.

The Dodgers are playing with no emotion behind the stoic Mattingly, and they probably will continue to be a bet-against team unless Kershaw is on the mound, and sometimes even then.

"Until things change at the top, I don't think it's going to change on the field," Cokin said. "It's a circus. The Dodgers are real bad right now."

Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Washington, three teams normally reduced to stooge status by July, are nothing to laugh at anymore. The Royals are not as easy to support with their weak pitching, but they are often big underdogs and their young hitters are potentially exciting.

Other teams, such as the Milwaukee Brewers, are worth a wager in specific spots. The Brewers are in the hunt in the NL Central despite a 16-29 road record.

"The Brewers are just hopeless against good teams, and they are horrendous on the road," Cokin said.

The Seattle Mariners, 43-45 and 4½ games out in the American League West, are an intriguing case. The rotation of Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda, Jason Vargas, Doug Fister and injured Erik Bedard is promising.

"As long as the Mariners don't get stupid and trade Hernandez, they could be really good," Cokin said. "They just need to get better offensively."

On the flip side, Marshall said, "A couple of these go-against situations are really becoming apparent. The bottom has completely fallen out for the Astros."

The race for last in the NL Central between Houston and the Chicago Cubs could be a thriller if the Cubs continue to disintegrate. Look to bet against the Cubs or pass in most situations.

But no team has been more disappointing than the Dodgers, even with Kemp playing the role of a superstar.

Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He co-hosts the "Las Vegas Sportsline" weeknights at midnight on KDWN-AM (720) and thelasvegassportsline.com.