The Los Angeles Dodgers (101-44) and their league-best offense are set to host the Arizona Diamondbacks (68-78) at Dodger Stadium on Monday for the first of a five-game series. The Diamondbacks are heading on the road after a tough seven-game homestand (2-5). They won only one out of four in their last series against the Padres, dropping the finale 6-1 on Sunday at Chase Field. Ketel Marte was 1 for 2 with a double and one RBI. The Dodgers are back home for an eight-game homestand after finishing up a successful nine-game road trip (7-2). They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Giants, taking the finale 4-3 on Sunday at Oracle Park. Freddie Freeman’s on-base streak is now at 11 games as he went 1 for 3 with one run and one RBI.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Dodgers have won 11 of 14 in the season series between the NL West rivals, although they dropped a close one 5-3 in 10 innings in their last meeting on Wednesday at Chase Field. Reliever Reyes Moronta was credited with the win after throwing one inning.
ON THE MOUND
Merrill Kelly (12-6, 3.01 ERA) is slated to start for Arizona. The right-hander gets the Dodgers for the second straight start. On Tuesday, he allowed three runs over five innings, a 4-0 road defeat. He was charged with the loss, yielding five hits while striking out eight and walking five. Over four previous starts against the Dodgers this season, Kelly has allowed 17 earned runs over 18 innings (0-4, 8.50). He has struck out 19 and walked 13.Left-hander Clayton Kershaw (8-3, 2.44 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles. His only prior start against the Diamondbacks this season was his last time out, when Kershaw held opposing hitters scoreless over seven innings in a 4-0 road win on Tuesday. He gave up two hits and walked one, while striking out five in the win.
AT THE PLATE
The Arizona offense is averaging 4.4 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .230/.306/.388. Christian Walker leads the team in OPS at .805. The first baseman is slashing .236/.327/.479 with 34 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 76 runs over 144 games. Over the last five games, however, Arizona has averaged only 2.6 runs a game while performing worse across the board (.174/.194/.366). Against lefties like Kershaw this season, the D-backs have a .666 OPS. Walker also is the team’s most productive hitter against left-handers with a .875 OPS in 118 at-bats. Los Angeles is slashing .260/.336/.452 for the season and averaging 5.4 runs per game, best in the league. Five Dodgers hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Freeman (.930). The first baseman has 20 home runs, 94 RBIs, and 106 runs scored with a slash line of .331/.405/.525. The Dodgers have a .794 OPS against right-handers in 2022, highest in the league. With a .978 OPS over 394 at-bats, Freeman also has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Arizona is 29-39 on the road in 2022, scoring 4.4 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs. Los Angeles has gone 49-18 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 5.5 runs per game while surrendering 3.4. Los Angeles is 9-1 in the last 10 games at Dodger Stadium between the teams with an average scoreline of 7.8-3.4.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Dodgers lead the NL West by 21 games over the Padres. Their magic number in the division is zero. The Diamondbacks are fourth in the NL West, 33 games behind the Dodgers. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, 12 games out of third.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Los Angeles Dodgers
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
