LA Dodgers (4-2) at Arizona (3-3)
When: Thursday, April 6th 2023
Where: Chase Field,
Phoenix, AZ
Time: 10:10 ET | TV: mlb.tv
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -141/9
The Los Angeles Dodgers have played all six of their games at Dodger Stadium, while the Arizona Diamondbacks have played all six on the road. That all changes Thursday night as the teams being a four-game set at Chase Field in Phoenix.
After scoring just seven runs total in four games at Los Angeles to begin the season, the D’backs’ bats came alive in splitting two games in San Diego. Arizona dropped the first one 5-4 but came back to even their record at .500 with an 8-4 victory on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are coming off a two-game sweep at home over the Colorado Rockies after splitting the four games against Arizona. L.A. star Mookie Betts injured his ankle on Tuesday, but the day off on Wednesday should give him enough rest to get back out against the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers are already without infielder Gavin Lux for the entire season, while pitchers Tony Gonsolin, Daniel Hudson, Jimmy Nelson, Ryan Pepiot, Alex Reyes and Blake Treinen are all out.
The Dodgers had a run of 10 straight victories over Arizona in 2022, but the teams have now split the last 10 meetings with the home team winning six times. Twelve of the last 15 matchups have finished under the total with three of the last five games being decided by one run, including two last week. The Under is 6-0 in the last six meetings at Chase Field.
Pitchers: Dodgers – Dustin May (0-0, 0.00) | Diamondbacks – Merrill Kelly (0-0, 0.00)
May opposed Kelly in the second game of the season back in L.A. that ended in a 2-1 win for Arizona. May was very solid, going seven scoreless innings and allowing just three hits, while striking out four. The rightly surrendered seven hits and five runs in four innings in his lone start against the Diamondbacks in 2022.
Kelly also gave up just three hits, but walked four and was pulled in the fourth inning. Drew Jameson got the win in relief after pitching four innings of one-run ball. Kelly was 0-5 with an ERA of 8.25 in five starts against the Dodgers last season.
I’ll give the pitching edge to the Dodgers in this one. May was very good last week against Arizona, while Kelly looked shaky and was rocked by L.A. last season. Look for the Dodgers to score some runs in this one.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Dodgers -1.5 +105
