Game: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Diamondbacks +175, Dodgers -192
Total: 8
The Arizona Diamondbacks have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, and Merrill Kelly, a right-hander, is a major contributing factor. In the middle game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, Kelly (10-5, 2.97 ERA) will start for the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
Prior to Monday’s game, Arizona’s pitching staff had an earned run average (ERA) of 3.19, which was third-lowest in MLB this season behind the Baltimore Orioles (2.82) and Seattle Mariners (3.00) going back to August 17. Additionally, they had the third-lowest WHIP (1.06) and the third-fewest hits allowed (65).
In five starts this month, Kelly is just 1-0, and the Diamondbacks are 2-3 during those games. However, Kelly has a 2.08 ERA in August and has pitched an average of six innings per appearance. The DBacks’ losses are more of an issue at the plate.
On August 9, Kelly made one of those five starts at home against the Dodgers and went six innings without allowing a run. Arizona still lost 2-0. In his most recent start against the Cincinnati Reds last Thursday, Kelly gave up just one hit while striking out a season-high 12 batters over seven scoreless innings. Kelly, sadly, left without making a decision, but Arizona did win the game 3-2.
In the first game of the series last night, starter Zac Gallen had a lead over the Dodgers going into the sixth inning before allowing Jason Heyward and rookie James Outman to hit back-to-back home runs. Los Angeles eventually won 7-4. The Dodgers won despite Mookie Betts’ hitting streak of 15 games coming to an end. Betts went 0-for-4. Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy hit home runs for the Dodgers. Los Angeles is now 22-4 in the month of August.
Tonight will see the Dodgers respond with veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw (11-4, 2.52) taking the mound. He is still dominant in his 16th season of pitching despite having to spend some time on the disabled list due to shoulder soreness. In 2023, Kershaw has pitched 107.1 innings. In the last three seasons, Kershaw hasn’t gone over 126.1. He is well rested after pitching only two innings on Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians. The rest of the game was postponed due to rain.
In his three appearances since making his comeback from the IL, Kershaw hasn’t thrown more than 71 pitches. Additionally, in any of those three starts, he hasn’t allowed more than one run. In 43 career appearances (all starts), Kershaw has a record of 21-12 and a 2.75 ERA against Arizona.
Despite the loss last night, Arizona is 7-2 SU in its last nine games. Unfortunately, the DBacks do not have much success against the Dodgers on the road. In the last 19 games at Dodger Stadium, Arizona is just 4-15 SU. The Dodgers are 17-3 in their last 20 games and 13-1 in their last 14 at home.
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