PREMIUM
GAME OF THE MONTH (Rogers' 10* MLB!) >>> #1 PLAY FOR AUGUST!
(MLB) LA Dodgers vs. Arizona,
Money Line: -177.00 LA Dodgers (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -177.00 LA Dodgers (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Dodgers lost 6-3 at Chase Field on Tuesday but rebounded last night with a 3-2 victory, becoming the first team to record 80 wins this season. The accolades just keep piling up for this LA team. Los Angeles has won five of its last six contests to improve to 6-2 on its nine-game road trip and became the first team since 1913 to reach the 80-win mark in its first 113 contests. The Dodgers have won 14 of 16 games and 45 of 53. They have won 14 of their past 17 series, splitting the three others. The rubber match of this three-game series goes tonight and LA has not dropped a series since losing two of three to Washington from June 5-7. Arizona has lost three of its last four contests to fall one-half game behind the Rockies for the first NL wild card spot but the D'backs own a 6 1/2-game lead for the second wild card.
The pitching matchup: Yu Darvish (7-9 & 3.81 ERA overall in 2017) will start for LA and Anthony Banda (1-1 & 3.86 ERA) gets the nod for Arizona. Darvish had a brilliant debut with Los Angeles this past Friday, scattering three hits and striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. It was an enormous turnaround, as he had been battered for 10 runs over 3 2/3 innings of a 22-10 loss to Miami on July 26 in his final outing with Texas before being traded five days later. Darvish has made two career starts against Arizona, going 1-0 while allowing four runs (2.45 ERA) and recording 28 strikeouts over just 14 2/3 innings (Rangers were 1-1). Banda is coming off a 2-1 triumph at San Francisco on Friday in which he gave up one run and three hits over six innings in his second major-league start. Banda will be facing Los Angeles for the first time and has posted a 7-6 record and 5.13 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A this season.
The pick: The contrast on the mound could not be much greater, as Banda makes his third career start and one can hardly be impressed by his 5.13 ERA in Triple-A in 2017. Meanwhile, Darvish is a No. 1 starter on most teams (he'll be No. 2 for LA when Kershaw returns) and rose to the occasion in his first start for LA. Expect another quality outing here and that LA lineup will teach Banda a thing or two. Make the Dodgers a 10* play.
The pitching matchup: Yu Darvish (7-9 & 3.81 ERA overall in 2017) will start for LA and Anthony Banda (1-1 & 3.86 ERA) gets the nod for Arizona. Darvish had a brilliant debut with Los Angeles this past Friday, scattering three hits and striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory over the Mets at Citi Field. It was an enormous turnaround, as he had been battered for 10 runs over 3 2/3 innings of a 22-10 loss to Miami on July 26 in his final outing with Texas before being traded five days later. Darvish has made two career starts against Arizona, going 1-0 while allowing four runs (2.45 ERA) and recording 28 strikeouts over just 14 2/3 innings (Rangers were 1-1). Banda is coming off a 2-1 triumph at San Francisco on Friday in which he gave up one run and three hits over six innings in his second major-league start. Banda will be facing Los Angeles for the first time and has posted a 7-6 record and 5.13 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A this season.
The pick: The contrast on the mound could not be much greater, as Banda makes his third career start and one can hardly be impressed by his 5.13 ERA in Triple-A in 2017. Meanwhile, Darvish is a No. 1 starter on most teams (he'll be No. 2 for LA when Kershaw returns) and rose to the occasion in his first start for LA. Expect another quality outing here and that LA lineup will teach Banda a thing or two. Make the Dodgers a 10* play.
