Saturday, June 30

8 Free Picks, all backed by In-Depth Analysis, plus more Rated Selections from the nation’s premier sports analysts, are available daily at PickNation.com

NATIONAL LEAGUE

San Diego (45-33) at L.A. Dodgers (45-35)

The top two pitchers in the National League are set to square off in Los Angeles tonight when the Padres’ Jake Peavy (9-2, 2.14 ERA) goes up against the Dodgers’ Brad Penny (10-1, 2.04) in Game 2 of this key N.L. West three-game set.

San Diego held on Friday night for a 7-6 victory and leads the season series 6-4.

Bud Black’s Padres have won seven of nine on the road and are locked in a virtual tug-o-war atop the division standings with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers.

Los Angeles has been tough to beat at home this season, going 16-8 in its last 24 at Dodger Stadium.

Peavy comes into this game off just his second loss of the season when he gave up three runs on nine hits in five innings in a 4-2 loss to the Red Sox Sunday. Peavy has allowed two runs or less in six of his last 10 outings and three runs or less in nine of 10.

On the road Peavy has been outstanding, posting a 4-0 mark with a 0.88 ERA. San Diego is 12-4 when he’s toed the rubber this season and he’s already faced the Dodgers twice this season. In April Peavy went to LA and gave up one run on three hits over seven innings of a 7-2 win and earlier this month he allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-5 victory.

The Padres have gone 7-2 against the Dodgers when Peavy is on the mound over the last three seasons.

Penny has been sensational in his last three, going 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA. At home this season Penny is 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA and the Dodgers are 7-1 when he pitches at Chavez Ravine. Los Angeles has won seven straight Penny outings and he has allowed one run or less in eight of his last 10, including four straight starts of allowing one earned run over at least seven innings.

Penny hasn’t had much luck with the Padres as he’s allowed three runs or more in five straight starts and the Dodgers have dropped five of seven to San Diego with Penny on the hill dating back to 2004.

The under is 10-5 in Peavy’s starts this season and the Padres have stayed under the total in six of seven games overall and five of their last seven on the road. However, the over is 9-3 in L.A.’s last 12 overall and 8-3 in the last 11 series showdowns, five in a row at Dodger Stadium.

ATS ADVANTAGE: SAN DIEGO

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Toronto (39-40) at Seattle (43-33)

The Mariners look to continue their red-hot play when they send Miguel Batista (7-6, 4.85 ERA) to the mound at Safeco Field tonight to take on the Blue Jays’ Roy Halladay (9-2, 4.25).

Seattle has won six straight and eight of nine and started the week with a three-game sweep of the Red Sox before scoring a 5-3 win over Toronto Friday. Seattle has been outstanding at home, posting a 25-15 mark at Safeco, including 8-2 on the current homestand.

Toronto has won five of eight overall and is part of the pack looking up at the Red Sox in the A.L. East standings.

The Blue Jays are an amazing 50-17 in Halladay’s last 67 starts and 10-3 in his last 13 outings on Saturday. He’s gone 3-0 in his last three outings with a 3.22 ERA and he’s 4-1 on the highway this season as the Blue Jays have compiled a 5-1 mark with him on a visiting mound.

Toronto has won six straight times he’s started and last year he beat the Mariners twice, giving up a combined six earned runs on 17 hits in 13 innings.

Batista has pitched well over the last month, leading the Mariners to five wins in seven outings. In his last start on Sunday, he gave up two runs on five hits in six innings of a 3-2 win over the Reds. He’s held the opposition to two earned runs or less in six of his last eight starts.

Batista is just 3-4 at home this season but he hasn’t faced the Blue Jays since 2002 when he was on the Diamondbacks’ staff.

The under has been the play in Batista’s last three starts while the over is 2-0 in Halladay’s last two and 7-4 in the Blue Jay’s last 11 overall

ATS ADVANTAGE: SEATTLE

8 Free Picks, all backed by In-Depth Analysis, plus more Rated Selections from the nation’s premier sports analysts, are available daily at PickNation.com