The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers meet Thursday in MLB action from Dodger Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Arizona Diamondbacks will send out Zac Gallen for the start here and Gallen was 13-15 with a 4.83 ERA and 175 strikeouts this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers will start Yoshinobu Yamamoto here and Yamamoto was 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts last season.
Arizona Diamondbacks Recap
The Arizona Diamondbacks enter the 2026 season looking to reset after a 2025 campaign that ended in a mediocre 80-82 record. While they stayed in the hunt late, they ultimately finished fourth in the NL West, missing the playoffs by three games as a league-worst bullpen and a massive wave of rotation injuries—including season-ending surgeries for Corbin Burnes and Justin Martinez—derailed their momentum. The core of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and a breakout, MVP-caliber year from Geraldo Perdomo provides plenty of optimism, but depth remains a concern with Christian Walker and Paul Sewald hitting free agency. Arizona made a massive splash this winter by trading for eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado to anchor third, and they brought back Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen to stabilize the staff. Only time will tell if a healthy rotation and Arenado’s bat can push them past the Dodgers and Padres, but keep an eye on Ryan Waldschmidt, who could be the next homegrown star to spark this lineup.
Why the Arizona Diamondbacks will win
- The Dodgers have lost each of their last four games as home favorites after going to extra innings.
- The Diamondbacks have won seven of their last eight Thursday games as road underdogs against National League opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in each of their last eight Thursday games as road underdogs against National League opponents.
- The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine games as favorites after going to extra innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Corbin Carroll has hit a home run in each of the Diamondbacks’ last two road games against the Dodgers.
- Zac Gallen has recorded five or more strikeouts in 12 of his last 14 appearances against NL West opponents.
- Geraldo Perdomo has recorded at least one hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last eight road games.
- Zac Gallen has recorded a win in six of his last eight appearances against NL West opponents.
- Geraldo Perdomo ranked 5th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.389) last season.
Los Angeles Dodgers Recap
The Los Angeles Dodgers come into the 2026 season looking to keep the momentum going after a massive 2025 campaign that saw them finish 93-69 and secure a World Series title over the Toronto Blue Jays. Despite the championship run, the Dodgers dealt with plenty of rotation turnover due to injuries to the likes of Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, but the star power of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman ultimately carried them through October. The Dodgers said goodbye to franchise legend Clayton Kershaw, who retired after the 2025 clincher, and let Michael Conforto walk after a lackluster year, but they replaced that production in a huge way by signing Kyle Tucker to a massive four-year deal. They also addressed the back end of the game by landing elite closer Edwin Díaz to join a healthy Brusdar Graterol. While Snell and Tommy Edman are expected to miss the start of 2026, there is a ton of hype around the return of River Ryan and Gavin Stone to the staff. If the rotation stays intact, the Dodgers have every reason to believe they can repeat.
Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win
- The Dodgers have won each of their last seven games against the Diamondbacks after going to extra innings.
- The Diamondbacks have lost each of their last six road openers against National League opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games.
- The Dodgers have covered the run line in each of their last four season openers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts
- Andy Pages has hit a home run in each of the Dodgers’ last two games against the Diamondbacks.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances at Dodger Stadium.
- Mookie Betts has recorded at least one hit in each of the Dodgers’ last 13 games as favorites against the Diamondbacks.
- Shohei Ohtani ranked 2nd amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.622) last season.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Dodgers’ last five games against National League opponents has gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Three of the Diamondbacks’ last four road games have gone OVER the total runs line.
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Prediction
I’m on the Dodgers here. Los Angeles is the better team here and while Gallen had a solid start at Dodger Stadium last year, he was far less effective on the road more often than not last year and I think the Dodgers get to him early and often. There were situations where the Dodgers weren’t all that trustworthy early on in the year but picked it up as the season progressed, and I think Los Angeles gets off on the right foot to start the year. Give me Los Angeles.