Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
The Arizona Diamondbacks (58-57) are back over the .500 mark after winning two of three games from the Philadelphia Phillies and four of their last five overall. The problem is, the Diamondbacks still trail the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers (77-40) by 18 games, and have ground to make up for the last Wild Card spot heading into a key three-game series at Dodger Stadium that starts Friday.
The Dodgers are listed as -200 home favorites (bet $200 to win $100) on the MLB odds in the series opener at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com with Walker Buehler (10-2, 3.22 ERA) on the hill.
Diamondbacks at Dodgers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Buehler is coming off a dominant performance in his last home start, allowing just one run and five hits, to go along with 15 strikeouts against zero walks in a complete-game victory against the San Diego Padres last Saturday. The 25-year-old righty has faced Arizona three times this season, going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA as Los Angeles went 3-0.
The Dodgers have won three of the past four meetings with the Diamondbacks, according to the OddsShark MLB Database, along with seven of 10 dating back to March 30. The OVER is also 7-4-2 in the previous 13 games between the teams at online betting sites going back to Sept. 26 of last season, with two of the last three resulting in a push.
Arizona counters with Robbie Ray (10-7, 4.03 ERA), who is the new ace of the team after Zack Greinke was dealt to the Houston Astros at the MLB trade deadline. Ray has picked up five wins in his past six starts following a personal three-game losing streak. However, he has gone 0-2 in three starts versus Los Angeles this year with a 4.42 ERA.
The Saturday and Sunday pitching matchups seemingly favor the Dodgers as well, with Kenta Maeda (7-8, 4.37 ERA) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (11-2, 1.53 ERA) toeing the rubber, respectively.
Maeda has pitched much better at Dodger Stadium this season with a 5-3 mark and 3.17 ERA in 11 games there, although he is riding a 12-game winless streak with some of those in relief and still looking for his first victory since May 31.
The Diamondbacks send 25-year-old lefty Alex Young (4-1, 2.60 ERA) to the mound opposite Maeda on Saturday, and that might be their best shot to get a win in this series.
On Sunday, Ryu is expected to make his return from the 10-day injured list due to neck soreness. In his last start, he pitched six scoreless innings at the Colorado Rockies on July 31, giving up only three hits with one walk and one strikeout.
New addition Mike Leake (9-8, 4.24 ERA) will get the nod for his second start with Arizona after arriving in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. Leake surrendered three runs (two earned) and 11 hits in 5.1 innings of an eventual 8-4 victory against the Phillies on Tuesday in his first.
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