Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers Prediction
The Los Angeles Dodgers have struggled mightily with the Arizona Diamondbacks but perhaps having their ace on the mound on Sunday will help them stop the bleeding. Will today’s National League West clash live up to the hype of a potential pitcher’s duel?
Game Snapshot & Odds
961 Arizona Diamondbacks at 962 Los Angeles Dodgers; 6.5 runs
Saturday, April 14, 2018
4:10 p.m. ET, Dodgers Stadium
TV: FSAZ (ARI); SNLA (LAD)
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Dodgers as a -208 favorite. As of this writing, 58% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Dodgers to beat the Diamondbacks on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Diamondbacks’ Godley coming off back-to-back impressive starts
One start after allowing just one earned run over seven innings in a victory against the Dodgers, Zack Godley went another seven innings in a 2-1 win over the Giants on Monday. In that win over San Francisco, he struck out nine hitters, which was impressive considering the Giants aren’t a team that struck out a ton. Godley now owns an ERA of 0.64.
Quotable: “We need to be battled tested for those types of moments and whether those types of storms,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told reporters after Friday’s victory in Los Angeles. “When you can stop (the opponents’) momentum, get the job done and win the game, it’s pretty powerful.”
Dodgers’ ace Kershaw also coming off dominanting starts vs. Giants
Just like Godley, Clayton Kershaw is coming off a dominating performance against NL West rival San Francisco. Kershaw held the Giants to one run over seven innings and striking out six in a no-decision last Sunday. He scattered six hits without issuing a walk but a pair of singles t lead off the eighth inning cost Kershaw an opportunity at a victory.
Quotable: “It’s not ideal, it’s not what we expected, but we’re playing some good teams,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “We’re just not synched up, whether it’s the pitching and the hitting is not there one day or vice versa.”
MLB Betting Trends
Arizona
The Diamondbacks are a perfect 5-0 in their last five games versus the Dodgers overall.
San Diego
The Dodgers are 5-0 in Kershaw’s last five home starts against the Diamondbacks and have won five of his last six starts versus Arizona overall.
Prediction:
I’m not going to overthink this one. The over is actually 4-0 in the last four meetings between these two teams in L.A. and is actually 5-1 in Kershaw’s last six starts versus the D-Backs. Still, this has pitcher’s duel written all over it. Both of these starters are already in rare form and even though the total is sitting at a miniscule 6.5 runs, I still feel good about taking the under.
The Pick: Diamondbacks/Dodgers under 8