Arizona Diamondbacks (0-1) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (1-0)
April 1, 2023 9:10 pm EDT
The Line: Los Angeles Dodgers -244 / Arizona Diamondbacks +185; Over/Under: 8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet Saturday in MLB action from Dodger Stadium. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend series. The Dodgers took a six-run win in the Thursday opener, then on Friday Arizona evened it up with a close victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Arizona Diamondbacks
In Thursday’s opener, the Diamondbacks posted just four hits in an 8-2 loss. Starting pitcher Zac Gallen gave up five earned on six hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. On Friday, Arizona had seven team hits in a 2-1 win. The Diamondbacks scored both their runs in the eighth inning.
As starter for the Diamondbacks on Saturday, it’ll be Madison Bumgarner. In his 30 starts last year, Bumgarner was 7-15 with a 4.88 ERA. In 158.2 innings total he managed 112 strikeouts. Bumgarner is 134-121 in his career over 354 games (351 starts) with a 3.42 ERA.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Over on the Dodgers’ side, they got 12 team hits in the Thursday victory with Will Smith accounting for three of them (and four RBI). On Friday Los Angeles had a brief lead before giving it away in the eighth. Dustin May put up 7.0 innings in the start with three hits and a walk.
Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the start on Saturday. Over his 22 starts last season Kershaw was 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA. In 126.1 innings total he had 137 Ks. Across his career, Kershaw is 197-87 with a 2.48 ERA. He has 2807 strikeouts in 2581.0 total innings.
The Diamondbacks are 19-39 in their last 58 Saturday games and 45-95 in their last 140 versus the NL West. Arizona is 45-101 in their last 146 road games.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are 39-13 in their last 52 at home and 68-26 in their last 94 overall. LA is 44-18 in their last 62 Saturday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably stay with Los Angeles in this one. Also probably not going near it; the line is rather thick. In any case, the Dodgers should feel pretty comparable with Kershaw on the mound here; he posted just three losses in 2022 and should come out firing. Friday’s game wasn’t the best offensive effort, but the good news is that the pitchers did well overall (outside of Alex Vesia, who had an off night on three hits and two earned). I like Los Angeles to get it together again and pull off another victory in the Saturday matchup. As for Arizona, their pitchers weren’t exactly sharp but they got the job done. Game three should be interesting but I like the Dodgers a little better win-wise.
