Can the Dodgers Overcome the Diamondbacks in the MLB Betting Lines?

Posted by Kenny Bell on Friday,April 21, 2017 9:51, EDT in

The Los Angeles Dodgers were expected to win the NL West title yet again this season and maybe they will. Could their toughest competition actually come from an Arizona team that was an utter disaster in 2016? The two teams play Game 2 of a three-game set in the desert on Saturday. The Snakes should be baseball betting favorites.

LA Dodgers at Arizona MLB Betting Prediction & Game Info

When: Saturday, April 22, 8:10 PM ET
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix
Probable pitchers (away/home): Kenta Maeda/Robbie Ray
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream: MLB.tv
Radio: Los Angeles /  Arizona
Opening MLB Lines: Diamondbacks favored by TBA

Why Bet On LA Dodgers?

The Dodgers are without one of their few guys who can hit lefties as they Dodgers placed 2B Logan Forsythe on the 10-day disabled list with a right big toe fracture. Forsythe was hit on the toe by a pitch during Tuesday’s game against the Rockies. He was initially diagnosed with a toe contusion, but upon further examination it has been determined that he sustained a fracture. He is expected to miss around two weeks.

Forsythe said doctors told him the bone would not be fully healed in two weeks but would be “sticky” enough to let him play if he could tolerate the discomfort. He said he expected to play with some sort of padding or tape around the toe.

The Dodgers, who set a major league record by putting 28 players on the disabled list last season, already have put 11 players on the DL this season. They have used 15 lineups already, extreme even by the standards of a front office that excels at roster manipulation. With Forsythe out, Chase Utley figures to see an increase in at-bats but only against right-handers. The Dodgers also put infielder Rob Segedin on the disabled list because of a strained toe and recalled infielder Chris Taylor and outfielder Brett Eibner from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

It’s Kenta Maeda (1-1, 7.07) on the mound for L.A. Maeda is starting Saturday against the Diamondbacks instead of Friday. With Rich Hill back on the disabled list due to blisters, the Dodgers had to rearrange their rotation in order to fit Alex Wood. As such, Maeda will be pushed back a day. The fact that Maeda has struggled this season only made that decision easier for the Dodgers.

Maeda was the surprising workhorse of the staff last year, but he hasn’t made it past five innings yet in three starts this year. He’s allowed a home run in each of those games.

Why Bet On Arizona?

Arizona’s starting pitchers have a 3.28 ERA. Compare that to last season, when the rotation’s ERA of 5.38 was the second-worst in the National League through 15 games.

“I think we’re a very talented group,” Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin said. “I think we have five really good pitchers who every day are going to go out there and keep us in games. Everybody is feeling good. The ball is coming out well. And guys are, I think, pitching deeper into games and keeping us in ballgames.”

Perhaps the Diamondbacks’ best starter thus far has been fourth-year major-leaguer Robbie Ray, who seems like he could make good on the promise that made him a potential breakout candidate entering the season. Ray has put up a 1.96 ERA in three starts while striking out 24, tied for fourth in the majors.

Fellow starting pitchers Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin, Taijuan Walker and Shelby Miller have also improved their ERAs from last season, and only Greinke owns an ERA over four.

It’s Ray on the mound here. Ray held the Dodgers to two runs — one earned — and struck out 10 in six innings Monday. Ray walked four and gave up a homer, but after pitching out of trouble the first two innings, he was pretty clean over the final four. He struck out 10 in the game, which the D-backs rallied to win 3-2.

Closer Fernando Rodney has converted all 5 save opportunities, holding opponents scoreless 3 times with a 3.60 ERA (3 ER in 5.0 IP) and .167 average (3-for- 18) with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts.

LA Dodgers at Arizona MLB Betting Pick

Maeda is struggling, while Ray already handcuffed the Dodgers once this week.