Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
ARI	2	0	0	2	2	2	0	1	0	9	9	0
LAD	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	9	3

Shohei Ohtani (8-2, 1.79 ERA) takes the mound at 7:10 PM PT looking to build on a start against San Diego where he punched out nine over six innings. Eduardo Rodriguez (7-3, 2.25 ERA) draws the assignment for Arizona off a strong turn in that same Padres series, trying to keep a shorthanded rotation afloat.

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Total

Diamondbacks(46-47)

WLLWL

9

+1.5-106+186o8.5-135

Dodgers(61-33)

WLWLW

3

-1.5+104-190u8.5+133

Best BetDodgers -267

Pregame

The Dodgers are the class of baseball right now and they're getting the ball to Ohtani at home, which is about as safe a moneyline anchor as exists in the sport. Arizona's been brutal against winning teams all year, and that trend doesn't have an obvious reason to break here. The price is steep, but this is a spot to pay it.

Ohtani hasn't been untouchable lately, though. He dealt with a right bicep issue that cut short a recent outing, and manager Dave Roberts has acknowledged his fastball command and sweeper haven't been as sharp as earlier in the season. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is barely a saving grace on the same start sheet as Corbin Burnes, Ryne Nelson, Michael Soroka and Blake Walston — all shelved for Arizona's staff.

Eduardo Rodriguez

(8-3)·2.62 ERA

Jul 5 vs Brewers

L

6.0IP

2ER

3K

0BB

102P

07/10 Lineup

Kyle Hurt

(3-1)·4.59 ERA

07/10 Lineup

None of that has stopped the Dodgers from running away with the NL West. Los Angeles owns the best record in baseball and just took a series from Colorado to stay hot. Arizona limped out of a four-game set with the Padres having split it, saved by a 3-1 win behind Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly. Split the series, not swept — that's been the Diamondbacks' whole season in miniature.

Arizona Diamondbacks

(46-47)

Jul 10W@ Padres3-1

Jul 9L@ Padres4-10

Jul 8L@ Padres1-4

Jul 7W@ Padres8-0

Jul 5Lvs Brewers2-3

Los Angeles Dodgers

(61-33)

Jul 9Wvs Rockies4-3

Jul 8Lvs Rockies3-4

Jul 7Wvs Rockies8-7

Jul 5Lvs Padres2-5

Jul 5Wvs Padres3-0

The bigger problem for Arizona isn't any single week — it's who they're built to beat. This is exactly the kind of game that's exposed them all year: a legitimate contender with a deep lineup and a Cy Young-caliber arm on the mound. Nolan Arenado's still doing damage and creeping toward 2,000 hits, which is worth watching, but one bat rarely flips a series against a team playing at the Dodgers' level right now.

Arizona Diamondbacks

(9)

• 10-Day-ILJordan Lawlar (LF) — Manager Torey Lovullo said June 20 that Lawlar will receive further imaging on his strained right hamstring during the All-Star break to gauge his healing, Steve Gilbert MLB.com reports.06/30
• 15-Day-ILMichael Soroka (SP) — Soroka (glute) is expected to begin throwing bullpen sessions twice weekly starting Tuesday, MLB.com reports.06/27
• 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes (SP) — Burnes (elbow) is expected to be re-evaluated during the first or second week of July, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.06/29
• 60-Day-ILRyne Nelson (SP) — The Diamondbacks transferred Nelson (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.06/25
• 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk (RP) — Arizona is shutting down Puk (elbow) for another four weeks due to a capsule strain and he will also undergo another MRI in four weeks, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.06/19
• 60-Day-ILCristian Mena (RP) — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that Mena underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILBlake Walston (SP) — Walston (elbow) paused his rehab program earlier in the season, but he was expected to start building back up around the middle of May, MLB.com reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez (RP) — Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.05/09
• 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank (RP) — Saalfrank (shoulder) said Wednesday that he expects to be sidelined 10-16 months, Arizona Sports reports.05/08

Los Angeles Dodgers

(12)

• 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez (1B) — Hernandez (oblique) took live batting practice against rehabbing teammate Edwin Diaz (elbow) on Sunday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.07/05
• 10-Day-ILWill Smith (C) — Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Smith (neck) began hitting in the cages Thursday and has also begun throwing, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.07/03
• 15-Day-ILBlake Treinen (RP) — The Dodgers announced Thursday that Treinen (elbow) has resumed playing catch, per MLB.com.07/05
• 60-Day-ILBlake Snell (SP) — Snell (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters Saturday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.07/07
• 60-Day-ILLandon Knack (SP) — Knack (intercostal) will make his third rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.07/05
• 60-Day-ILEdwin Diaz (RP) — Diaz (elbow) said he felt "really good" while facing hitters in live batting practice Sunday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.07/05
• 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow (SP) — Glasnow (back) has been cleared to begin a throwing program, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.06/30
• 60-Day-ILBobby Miller (SP) — Miller (shoulder/back) will resume throwing off the mound this week, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
• 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Tuesday that Stone has been unable to ramp up his throwing without feeling soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat.com reports.06/03
• 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol (RP) — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.06/01
• 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/19
• 60-Day-ILJake Cousins (RP) — The Dodgers transferred Cousins (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.05/08

Both rosters are banged up, but the Dodgers can absorb it — Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Edwin Diaz are all working back toward the rotation and bullpen, which is a scary thought for the rest of the league. Arizona doesn't have that luxury; every arm they lose is one they can't easily replace. That imbalance is the story of this series, and Friday night is round one.