The top pitching matchup in baseball on Monday night is a series opener from the desert as the NL West rival Dodgers and Diamondbacks meet. It’s friends, former teammates and ex-Cy Young winners on the bump in L.A.’s Clayton Kershaw and Arizona’s Zack Greinke. The Dodgers are favored on the MLB Odds.
How to Bet Dodgers vs Diamondbacks MLB Odds & Game Info
- When: Monday, 9:40 PM ET
- Where: Chase Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Clayton Kershaw/Zack Greinke
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: ESPN 1320
- MLB Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers -140 (Total 8.5)
Ten Bold MLB Betting Predictions Heading into 2019 Midseason
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
The Dodgers enter on a six-game winning streak after sweeping the visiting Rockies over the weekend. Will Smith delivered a pinch-hit three-run homer to propel the Dodgers to a 6-3 walk-off victory over the Rockies on Sunday. Smith came off the bench to take Rockies reliever Scott Oberg deep to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was his third career round-tripper and the second of the walk-off variety in his young career. Smith was just called up earlier Sunday. He took the roster spot of infielder David Freese, who was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Smith caught a morning flight from Oklahoma City and got to the ballpark a couple of hours before the game.
The Dodgers became the first time in big-league history to have rookie teammates hit walk-off homers in three straight games. Matt Beaty hit a two-run shot in the ninth inning on Friday and Alex Verdugo did it in the 11th on Saturday. The last team to win three straight games in walk-off fashion was Oakland two years ago. The Dodgers had not done it since a 2010 series against Arizona. The Dodgers have tied the 1974 NL champions for the best start in franchise history (54-25).
It’s three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw on the bump. Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings against San Francisco last Tuesday to earn the win, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six. The left-hander threw 71 of 100 pitches for strikes and allowed only five hitters to reach base. In doing so, he picked up his 10th quality start in 11 appearances this season and improved his career record against the Giants to 23-11.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts credited Kershaw’s ability to minimize damage and his “relentless preparation” for his sustained success through diminished stuff. Tuesday marked only the third time he took the mound on regular rest, which consists of four days in between. Since the start of 2018, Kershaw has made 14 more regular-season starts on extra rest than he has on regular rest, the Dodgers’ answer to the growing NBA trend of “load management.”
Despite starting the season on the IL with an injured shoulder, Kershaw has once again posted All-Star quality numbers, complementing his 7-1 record with a 2.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 73:14 K:BB in 79 innings. Kershaw is getting an extra day of rest for this start. He’s also pitching in Chase Field, where he’s 6-8 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.202 WHIP.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 2.56
- Hits: 4.38
- Walks: 1.88
- Strike Outs: 3.81
- Runs: 1.74
- Hits: 3.52
- Walks: 1.08
- Strike Outs: 4.35
Why Bet on Arizona?
The Diamondbacks snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided a home sweep against the Giants with a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Sunday. Tim Locastro’s single in the 10th inning was the winner, a line drive to left field that scored Nick Ahmed and helped the Diamondbacks end a season-long skid. The first pitch of Locastro’s at-bat in the 10th against Giants reliever Mark Melancon almost hit him. Locastro turned out of the way. Matt Andriese pitched a scoreless top of the 10th to earn the win. He was the last of four relievers that held the Giants hitless for four innings.
Christian Walker went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the victory. Walker extended his hit streak to eight games with an opposite-field RBI single off Giants starter Shaun Anderson in the fourth inning. He also scorched a ground-rule double in the seventh and smacked a leadoff single in the 10th. The 28-year-old is hitting .265/.337/.489 with 39 runs scored, 13 homers and 31 RBI in 297 plate appearances.
Second baseman Ketel Marte (groin) remained out of the Diamondbacks’ lineup Sunday. The good news is Marte told manager Torey Lovullo he was ready to play. However, the skipper decided to play it safe and rest the switch-hitter one more day. Marte is having a great season, batting .309 with 20 homers and 51 RBIs. He should be an All-Star.
It’s ace and former AL Cy Young winner Zack Greinke on the bump. Greinke (8-3) surrendered five runs on 11 hits while striking out two through seven innings Wednesday to take the loss against the Rockies. The right-hander was in an unusual form, allowing a season-high 11 hits in a tough outing. Greinke held the Rockies scoreless until the fourth inning when he gave up a two-run homer to Daniel Murphy. He then retired seven of the next eight batters until trouble knocked again in the seventh, when the 35-year-old allowed three runs on six hits, including five straight. Greinke had not allowed a run over his last two starts. Despite the loss, he still owns a 2.91 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 87:14 K:BB.
Greinke will square off against the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw for just the second time in his career. In four June starts, Greinke is 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA. He faced the Dodgers on Opening Day and allowed four homers.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 2.50
- Hits: 4.45
- Walks: 1.52
- Strike Outs: 4.19
- Runs: 2.26
- Hits: 4.27
- Walks: 1.54
- Strike Outs: 4.26
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks MLB Betting Trends
- Under is 5-1 in Kershaw’s last 6 road starts vs. Diamondbacks
- Over is 4-1 in Greinke’s last 5 starts vs. Dodgers
- Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against Arizona
- The total has gone UNDER in 7 of LA Dodgers’ last 8 games on the road
- Diamondbacks are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Arizona’s last 5 games when playing at home against LA Dodgers
Expert Final Score Prediction for Dodgers vs Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers 3 – Arizona Diamondbacks 2
