Good or struggling, pitchers get a look

Backing a winning pitcher will always be a safe baseball bet, especially when the starter is someone like the Angels’ John Lackey (5-1 record and 1.65 earned-run average) or Milwaukee’s Ben Sheets (9-1, 2.59 ERA).

But although Lackey and Sheets will attract strong support for their starting assignments today, bettors should not overlook going against a struggling pitcher such as Cincinnati right-hander Bronson Arroyo, who’s 0-3 in his last five starts.

Arroyo, who is scheduled to take the mound for the Reds against the Cleveland Indians today, has a 4-7 record for the season with a whopping 6.52 ERA.

That’s part of the reason behind the line oddsmakers have given today for Cincinnati, which has been made a +161 underdog against the Indians (-169), according to Covers.com. Cleveland will start left-hander Aaron Laffey (4-4, 2.83 ERA).

Arroyo has had his problems in June.

In 22 1/3 innings, Arroyo has given up 25 earned runs, 37 hits and nine home runs, while allowing batters to hit .374 this month. And in Arroyo’s last start at Toronto, he gave up three homers, 11 hits and 10 runs in only one inning of work in a 14-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Not the type of effort the Reds expect from a pitcher who signed a $25-million, two-year contract extension in 2007.

It’s a much different story for the Angels and Brewers, who have enjoyed one strong effort after another from Lackey and Sheets, respectively.

Lackey, who will make his ninth start of the season against the Dodgers today, has won four games in a row, and the Angels are 16-5 in his last 21 interleague starts.

With Lackey on the mound, oddsmakers have made the Angels favorites at -117 over the Dodgers (+109), who will start right-hander Derek Lowe (5-7, 4.05 ERA) today.

For Milwaukee, Sheets is the main reason why the Brewers are favored at -128 over Minnesota.

Despite the Twins’ hot roll, which included 10 consecutive victories entering Saturday night’s game, the Brewers are listed as favorites today. Minnesota, which will start righty Kevin Slowey (4-6, 3.96 ERA), is listed at +120.

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lonnie.white@latimes.com