Arizona at LA Dodgers NLDS Game 1 Preview & MLB Lines

Archie Bradley was the hero for the Arizona Diamondbacks in their wild card win over the Colorado Rockies. The bearded relief pitcher came in with two outs in the seventh and ended the Rockies’ rally. Then he stayed in the batting order and slugged a two-run triple, the first relief pitcher to hit a triple in a playoff game since 1918, when Boston brought in Babe Ruth from left field to pitch in relief in a World Series game. Bradley pitched the eighth and, despite having given up four home runs all year, gave up a pair to the Rockies before settling down to finish the inning. The Diamondbacks saw both of their top starters, Zack Greinke and Robbie Ray, get torched — which means that neither is likely to face the Dodgers in the NLDS opener. As you consider the MLB lines for this game, pay attention to who the Diamondbacks choose as their starter — but also check out our wagering insights below.

Arizona at LA Dodgers NLDS Game 1 Preview & MLB Lines

#OurSeason continues.#DbacksWin!!! pic.twitter.com/9aamjqBdUk

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 5, 2017

When: Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:31pm ET Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles TV: TBS Radio: ESPN Radio Live Stream: MLB.tv MLB Odds: XXXX Pitching Matchup: Undecided (ARI) vs Clayton Kershaw (18-4, 2.31 ERA) (LA)

Why should you bet on the Diamondbacks?

Arizona won their regular season series against the Dodgers, taking 11 of the 19 games between the teams, and all of the last six. Those games did take place during that awful slump that marked the Dodgers’ December. J.D. Martinez came in this season and slugged 29 home runs, and Martinez and Paul Goldschmidt both hit very well against left-handed pitchers…and Kershaw is the Dodgers’ premier southpaw. The problem with this theory, though, is that Goldschmidt has only hit .227 in his career off Kershaw, with a pair of home runs. In 2017 the numbers have been even worse, with Goldschmidt going 0 for 5 against the Dodgers’ ace. But who will the Diamondbacks start? Either Greinke or Ray would be coming back on a single day’s worth of rest. Taijuan Walker and Zack Godley are #28 and #31 of the 32 starting pitchers in the postseason, according to ESPN’s rankings. The Diamondbacks permitted 231 fewer runs in 2017 than they did in 2016, and the starting rotation was a major factor. The top four starters (Greinke, Ray, Walker and Godley) each had an ERA below 3.50 despite the fact that their stadium is built to favor batters.

Why should you put your money on the Dodgers?

With 104 wins, the Dodgers have the most wins in a season since the team left Brooklyn in 1958. There was a stretch in this season when they won 56 of 67 games…but there was also a stretch where they only won 1 contest in 17. They led the National League in fewest runs permitted by a margin of 79 runs over the second-place team. They also hit 221 home runs, coming in just three behind the National League’s leader. That combination of dominant pitching and power hitting should give the Dodgers an edge over the Diamondbacks — and against most of the other teams that they will see in this postseason. The Dodgers have won five consecutive division titles, and they have made the playoffs 11 times since 1988, when they last won a World Series title. Having Rich Hill and Yu Darvish in the Dodgers’ rotation should mean that Kershaw feels less pressure in his own outing. At the back of the bullpen waits Kenley Jansen, possibly the best closer in the National League. With Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger, the Dodgers have four sluggers waiting to take advantage of any mistakes that the Diamondback pitchers make.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Diamondbacks do ride a big wave of momentum into this game, but the chaos in their starting rotation does not bode well against an innings machine like Clayton Kershaw. The Diamondbacks won’t go down easily, but I don’t see them winning the opener. I predict a final score of Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 4.