With Clayton Kershaw starting for the Dodgers and Taylor Clarke for the Diamondbacks, the pitching matchup will be an interesting one. Clayton Kershaw is 5-1 this season with 41 strikeouts. And Taylor Clarke is 1-0 with 27 strikeouts. The slumping Diamondback are due for a win but is this game going to be the one?
Probably not. The Diamondbacks have been one of the worst teams in the league in the last month. Taylor Clarke came into the Diamondbacks rotation as a replacement for the injured Merrill Kelly, and in his three starts this season has an Earned Run Average of 3.75. And Clarke’s last start went poorly after allowing three runs after six hits in only three innings against the Giants. While one of the best pitcher in the league in Clayton Kershaw has been the Dodgers best starter this season, and in his most recent start Kershaw went six scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts against the Diamondbacks. With little exposure to Taylor Clarke the Dodgers may have trouble on the offensive side of the plate, the Dodgers may struggle to get the bats going at the start of the game but by their second time through the hitters will be a lot more comfortable and will start to hit against Clarke. Corey Seager is also having his own season for the Dodgers batting .331 with 31 Runs Batted In through 35 games played. While their isn’t anyone batting that great on the Diamondbacks.
Offense Comparison:
Offensively, the Dodgers are averaging 5.62 runs a game, 8.55 hits, 3.71 walks, and 7.83 strikeouts. While the Diamondbacks are averaging 3.98 runs a game, 7.57 hits, 3.07 walks and 7.81 strikeouts. With little difference in every offensive stat besides runs per game, this could be a close game on the offensive side of things but the difference between the two starting pitchers will come to fruition after the third inning.
Defense Comparison:
Defensively, the Dodgers are averaging 3.29 runs allowed per game, 6.86 hits, 2.71 walks, and 8.67 strikeouts. The Diamondbacks are averaging 4.98 runs allowed per game, 8.45 hits, 4.02 walks, and 9.07 strikeouts. So with everything but strikeouts going to the Dodgers this season defensively, the Dodgers definitely have the edge while playing the field especially with Clayton Kershaw coming off the mound for them.
The Odds on FanDuel are:
LAD -1.5 (-164), Moneyline: -270, Over 9 (-102)
AZ +1.5 (+138), Moneyline: +230, Under 9 (-120)
Picks:
The easy spread pick is the Dodgers -1.5 (-164), with Kershaw being a very consistent pitcher this season there is no doubt he will continue that on Wednesday and hold the Diamondbacks to little or nothing in his start. And looking at his bullpen to finish the game for him this spread should never be in danger, unless Kershaw continues his struggles at Chase Field.
Going with the spread pick, Dodgers Moneyline looks great. Not only is the Dodgers best starter, starting the game on the mound for the Dodgers but so are some of the best hitters in the league. And the Dodgers defense has not showed many flaws this season. While in the Home Dugout, the Diamondbacks have struggled in almost every way imaginable this season.
With the Over/Under set at 9 runs, the under of 9 runs would be a great pick, looking at the 2 teams and the pitchers stats. But don’t forget that Kershaw has always had his struggles at Chase Field, will that come into play on Wednesday night for the Dodgers or will they be able to roll through the Diamondbacks as they should.
As for props to take in this game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, a great but risky pick to take would be the Run Line/ Run Totals Double of Los Angeles Dodgers -2.5/ Under 8.5 which sits at +440. The risk in this is obviously needing the Dodgers to win by three runs but not having the total reach past eight total runs between the two teams.