Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks

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

First pitch at Chase Field is set for 1:10 PM MT, and neither guy on the mound is walking in with momentum. Justin Wrobleski made the All-Star team this year but comes in off back-to-back disasters, and Eduardo Rodriguez isn't in much better shape after his own rough turn against San Diego.

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Total

Dodgers(70-47)

WLLLL

2

-1.5+125-129o8.5-106

Diamondbacks(62-56)

LWLWL

4

+1.5-127+127u8.5+106

Best BetDodgers -146

Pregame

The Dodgers are the play here even with the offense in a funk — this is still a deeper, more talented roster than Arizona's, and they've already shown this series they can win the low-scoring grind. Arizona's rotation is stretched even thinner with Kelly banged up, which tips the outright edge back to L.A. despite the recent skid.

The injury sheets on both sides explain a lot about how we got here. Arizona is already down three rotation arms and now has to sweat out Merrill Kelly, who left Friday's game with leg cramping — a recurring issue for the 37-year-old righty in the middle of a wild-card scrap. The Dodgers have their own mess: L.A.'s rotation is basically running on fumes with four starters on the 60-day IL, and catcher Dalton Rushing was just diagnosed with a UCL tear.

Justin Wrobleski

(11-5)·3.56 ERA

Aug 3 @ Cubs

L

4.1IP

7ER

4K

3BB

91P

08/09 Lineup

Eduardo Rodriguez

(13-4)·2.61 ERA

Aug 4 vs Padres

L

5.2IP

5ER

4K

0BB

102P

08/09 Lineup

None of that has stopped this series from being a dogfight. Every game so far has been decided by one or two runs, and Saturday's needed extra innings before L.A. snapped a four-game skid. Shohei Ohtani and the middle of the Dodgers order have been quiet by their standards for weeks now, while Arizona is scrapping for every inch of the wild-card picture and won't get a better spot than a get-well game against a taxed Dodgers pen.

Los Angeles Dodgers

(70-47)

Aug 9W@ Diamondbacks2-1

Aug 8L@ Diamondbacks3-4

Aug 5L@ Cubs6-7

Aug 5L@ Cubs1-5

Aug 4L@ Cubs5-10

Arizona Diamondbacks

(62-56)

Aug 9Lvs Dodgers1-2

Aug 8Wvs Dodgers4-3

Aug 7Lvs Padres1-5

Aug 6Wvs Padres10-4

Aug 5Lvs Padres4-9

The Dodgers arrived in Phoenix in the middle of their worst stretch of the season, having been swept twice in a row before finally breaking through Saturday. That's the version of this team Arizona has actually seen the last two days — grindy, low-scoring, capable of losing a lead late. The D-backs, for their part, have been streaky all week, alternating wins and losses and looking for anything resembling consistency out of a lineup that's missing multiple outfield bats.

Los Angeles Dodgers

(13)

• 10-Day-ILDalton Rushing (C) — Manager Dave Roberts said Rushing (elbow) has a "very small" chance of being able to play catcher again this season, but the Dodgers are hopeful that the 25-year-old can serve as a left-handed option off the bench if he's able to return from the 10-day injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILWill Klein (RP) — The Dodgers placed Klein on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right elbow discomfort, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.08/02
• 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart (RP) — MRI results on Stewart's right shoulder revealed tendinitis Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.08/01
• 15-Day-ILBlake Treinen (RP) — Treinen (elbow) will face live hitters Wednesday, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILBlake Snell (SP) — Snell (elbow) will return from the injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Royals, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.08/08
• 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Stone (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.08/06
• 60-Day-ILBobby Miller (SP) — Miller (shoulder/back) allowed a solo home run and struck out three over two innings in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.08/06
• 60-Day-ILTyler Glasnow (SP) — Glasnow (back) is expected to cover around three innings and 45 pitches in his next minor-league rehab start Sunday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.08/05
• 60-Day-ILKris Bubic (SP) — The Dodgers acquired Bubic (shoulder/elbow) from the Royals on Monday in exchange for right-hander Carlos Duran, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.08/03
• 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) made the third appearance of his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowing one earned run on no hits and four walks while recording just one out.08/02
• 60-Day-ILWill Smith (C) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Smith (neck) will need at least 3-to-4 weeks to ramp back up to full speed, including a rehab assignment, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.08/01
• 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-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

Arizona Diamondbacks

(15)

• Day-To-DayMerrill Kelly (SP) — Kelly was removed from Friday's game against the Dodgers due to an apparent injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.08/08
• 10-Day-ILJordan Lawlar (LF) — Lawlar (hamstring) could have his rehab moved to Triple-A Reno next week, MLB.com reports.08/08
• 10-Day-ILLourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF) — Gurriel (adductor) hopes to gain clearance to increase baseball activities at a follow-up appointment Wednesday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.08/04
• 10-Day-ILTommy Troy (LF) — Troy (shoulder) is likely to participate in extended spring training games this week, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.08/04
• 15-Day-ILMichael Soroka (SP) — Soroka (glute) is expected to start Monday against the Rockies, MLB.com reports.08/08
• 15-Day-ILRyan Thompson (RP) — The Diamondbacks placed Thompson on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a lower-back strain, Jody Jackson of DBacks.tv reports.08/05
• 15-Day-ILDrey Jameson (RP) — Jameson (hip) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session recently and will progress to a simulated game Tuesday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez (RP) — Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Martinez (elbow) will soon be assigned to Triple-A Reno for additional rehab appearances, MLB.com reports.08/09
• 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk (RP) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Puk (elbow/shoulder) will remain shut down for the remainder of the season, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.08/07
• 60-Day-ILBlake Walston (SP) — Walston (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes (SP) — Burnes (elbow/teres major) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILZac Gallen (SP) — The Diamondbacks transferred Gallen (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.08/04
• 60-Day-ILRyne Nelson (SP) — Nelson (elbow) will begin a throwing program Saturday or Sunday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank (RP) — Saalfrank (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.07/18
• 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

Wrobleski's issue lately hasn't been stuff, it's location — he's owned up to the possibility hitters are picking up something in his delivery after allowing four home runs in each of his last two starts. Rodriguez has the platform to make this a step-and-forward series for Arizona if he can find the version of himself that had a sub-3 ERA for most of the summer, rather than the one who got shelled his last time out. Whoever settles in first probably decides the rubber match.