New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers baseball picks.

New York enjoyed a day off on Thursday in getting set for this three-game series, after pushing its interleague record to 9-6 (-180) with a 6-5 road victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.  The Yankees play against Joe Torre’s Dodgers for the first time this weekend at Chavez Ravine.  “We’ve been through too much to not kind of fell like [Torre is] a Yankee,” said SP Andy Pettitte.  New York’s record stands at 45-27 on the year, the top record in baseball, which is the best start for the Yankees since 2004 (45-26).

Yankees SP C.C. Sabathia is 8-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts this season (-130) and is currently enjoying a four-game winning streak in June.  In his four starts this month, the left-hander is a perfect 4-0 with a 2.48 ERA, while posting eight shutout innings in a 4-0 home victory over the Mets last time out.  Sabathia has produced an even 3-3 mark and 4.73 ERA in eight road starts (5-0, 2.57 Home), allowing opposing batters to hit for a .278 average.

Los Angeles avoided getting swept by its intra-city rivals, picking up a 10-6 win over the Angels at Angel Stadium.  The Dodgers have lost nine of their last 12 games dating back to June 11, falling five games behind in the standings over that time.  The club is also nine games into a stretch where 15 of 18 games will be played on the road (3-6).  Los Angeles is 12 games into a 15-game interleague schedule (3-9, -750).  Dodgers’ fans will feel confident in victory if closer Jonathan Broxton takes the mound tonight, posting a 1-0 record with six saves and a 2.12 ERA over 30 career interleague appearances.

Dodgers SP Vicente Padilla is an even 1-1 with a 6.67 ERA in five starts this season (-350).  Los Angeles has managed to pick up a victory in just one of his outings, as the team has been outscored 39-30.  The veteran right-hander has made just a single start at Dodger Stadium this season (+100), picking up a 10-8 victory on April 16, allowing three runs and four hits over seven innings.  Padilla has made four career starts against the Bronx Bombers, posting a 1-2 record and 7.65 ERA (+70).

As for the free baseball pick, MLB bettors may want to put together a parlay on the Yanks and Over for this contest, as the Yankees are 7-1 on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season, while the total is 17-9 O/U in Dodgers’ games with the same number.