10:10 pm
July 9

Diamondbacks @ Dodgers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Arizona Diamondbacks (25-64)

@ Los Angeles Dodgers (54-34)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Widener (ARI): 1-0; 2.63 ERA

Price (LAD) 4-0; 3.58 ERA

 

Current odds:

Arizona Diamondbacks: (+250)

Los Angeles Dodgers: (-290)

 

• After one week on the road, the Los Angeles Dodgers will return home Friday to close out the first half against the Arizona Diamondbacks having gained a half-game in the standings on a trip that otherwise was not so positive. The highlights included sweeping four games in Washington as well as meeting with President Joe Biden to celebrate the team’s 2020 World Series title. However, the concerns ended up being far more noteworthy.

• The Dodgers are down to three starters: Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Tony Gonsolin, who has made just five starts this season. They have been covering their recent rotation vacancies with bullpen games and will do so again Friday. It means that David Price, at age 35 and with 13 years of experience, will need to stretch out his innings so he can be a starter moving forward. The left-hander hasn’t thrown more than 2 2/3 innings in an outing this season.

• Price will pitch at some point Friday, whether it is at the start of the game or after an opener, with the veteran picking up a bulk of the innings in the middle of the game. In six career games (four starts) vs. Arizona, Price is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA. The Dodgers pulled off a 6-1 road victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday behind the pitching of Urias, but that came after three consecutive defeats in South Florida.

• Arizona dropped a 9-3 decision at home to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday, a loss that came after they finally won consecutive games for the first time since May 10-11. The Diamondbacks have dropped eight of their past 11 games and 28 of their past 33. Arizona is expected to bring right-hander Taylor Widener (1-0, 2.63 ERA) back from the injured list to make the start Friday. Widener has been sidelined since late May due to a groin ailment. He made two rehab starts over the past 11 days, allowing a combined nine runs on 15 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Dodgers
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