The set-up: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League West in each of the last five seasons and in the 2017 postseason, easily dispatched the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game sweep in the NLDS. However, there can be no question that the Diamondbacks have enjoyed the upper hand in their divisional rivalry with the Dodgers as of late. Not when one looks at the fact that the Diamondbacks, who visit Dodger Stadium on Friday to open a three-game series, will be seeking a 10th straight regular-season victory against the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks continued to their recent regular-season mastery of the Dodgers early last week, winning in 15 innings in the opener before yielding a total of one run and five hits over the final two contests to conclude a third straight sweep of the defending division champions with victories of 6-1 and 3-0. Los Angeles did get the last laugh against Arizona last year by sweeping the Diamondbacks in three games during the NLDS but came up short in the 2017 World Series in Game 7 vs. Houston. LA is just 4-7 to open the 2018 season and has yet to win more than two games in a row this season. The Dodgers' pitching staff is also licking its wounds after allowing 16 runs on 21 hits in Wednesday's home loss against Oakland. In contrast, Arizona is off to a 9-3 start, while owning a 2.72 team ERA (3rd-best in MLB) that includes a 1.69 ERA by its bullpen (2nd-best).

The pitching matchup: Zack Greinke (0-1, 5.06 ERA), who pitched for LA from 2013-15, will get the start for Arizona and Kenta Maeda (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for LA. Greinke struggled in the sub-40 degree conditions in St. Louis on Saturday, surrendering five runs on nine hits while striking out five in as many innings. The former Cy Young Award winner has yet to make it through six innings or throw more than 86 pitches in his two 2018 starts but one also needs to note that he owns a 14-0 KW ratio through 10 2/3 innings. Greinke went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts against his former team last season and is 1-2 with a 7.56 ERA in three starts at Dodger Stadium since joining Arizona in 2016. Maeda made his first start of the season back on since March 31 but he was skipped in the rotation due to a rainout on April 6, before pitching one inning of relief at San Francisco on Saturday, In his lone 2018 start, he allowed five hits and a walk over five innings but didn't allow a run against the Giants, while striking out 10! However, he was 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts against the Diamondbacks last season (Dodgers were 1-4). He is 3-3 lifetime against the Diamondbacks with a 4.72 ERA in 11 starts (LA is 4-7).

The pick: Maeda's career number vs. Arizona are not good (see above) plus as noted, the D'backs have won NINE straight regular season meetings with the Dodgers. However, the Dodgers were a dominating and MLB-best 57-24 in their home park last season. The team's slow start to the current season is no more than mild concern and I'll make LA a 10* play.