Game: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Time: 9:40 p.m.
Odds: Dodgers -152, Diamondbacks +139
Total: 9.5
After their win on July 1, the Arizona Diamondbacks were 16 games over .500 and had a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The DBacks’ poor performance over the subsequent five or more weeks has caused them to fall nine games behind the Dodgers as of tonight’s game. It is the first game of a two-game series between the teams in Phoenix.
Since that win on July 1, Arizona has gone 7-22 and is currently in third place in the division. The Diamondbacks have dropped six straight games while scoring just 11 runs. A 5-3 defeat to the Minnesota Twins on Sunday may have hurt more than any other loss this year. Arizona stole eight bases, breaking the club record, and led by one going into the bottom of the ninth. But as Minnesota rallied for the victory, newly acquired closer Paul Sewald entered for his first save opportunity and delivered a game-tying home run and a two-run walk-off blast.
This season, Arizona is 5-3 against the Dodgers, but their most recent encounter took place on April 9. In their most recent wins over Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks scored 23 runs.
Following their 13-7 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday, the Dodgers now hold a four-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. In its last seven games, Los Angeles has won six of them. The Dodgers won three of the four games in the series with San Diego. Mookie Betts hit a grand slam in the final game. James Outman also had four hits as Los Angeles overcame an early 5-0 deficit.
By going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs, Freddie Freeman maintained his hot streak and raised his season batting average to .340. Over his last 19 games, Freeman has hit .462 (36-for-78) with six home runs, 17 RBIs, and 27 runs. On a day when seven of the 15 Los Angeles hits went for extra bases, Enrique Hernandez also homered. When there were runners in scoring position, the Dodgers went 7 for 10.
The Dodgers’ left-hander Julio Urias (8-6, 4.69 ERA) will start tonight’s game. With a record of 8-1 and a 1.55 ERA in 12 career appearances (nine starts) against Arizona, Urias has always performed well against the DBacks. On March 30, he defeated Arizona after pitching six innings while allowing two runs on four hits. Last Thursday, Urias, who turns 27 on Saturday, defeated Oakland. He pitched five innings without a run and allowed just three hits.
Urias has allowed two home runs from the Diamondbacks’ Carson Kelly. Despite leaving Sunday’s game due to left quadriceps tightness, Ketel Marte is 5-for-22 against Urias and he is anticipated to be in the starting lineup tonight.
Brandon Pfaadt, a rookie right-hander for Arizona (0-5, 7.11), will attempt to win his first major league game on his tenth attempt. Despite pitching brilliantly in his most recent start, he lost to the Giants 1-0. Over seven innings, Pfaadt only allowed two hits and one run (on a home run). He walked one while striking out seven, a season high. He has never faced the Dodgers in his career.
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