10:10 pm
September 21

Diamondbacks @ Dodgers

Who will WIN this matchup?

Arizona Diamondbacks (68-80)

@ Los Angeles Dodgers (103-44)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Bumgarner (ARI): 6-15; 5.01 ERA

May (LAD) 2-2; 3.46 ERA

 

Current odds:

Arizona Diamondbacks: (+257)

Los Angeles Dodgers: (-312)

 

• The starting line-up for the Diamondbacks is as follows:

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• The starting line-up for the Dodgers is as follows:

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• The matchup does not quite conjure up the magic that it used to, but there remains something rich about Madison Bumgarner facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bumgarner’s matchups with the Dodgers, back when he was a starter for the San Francisco Giants, always carried an extra bit of weight. Now in his third season with the Arizona Diamondbacks (69-80), the left-hander has been a division foe of the Dodgers for 14 years.

• Bumgarner (6-15, 5.01 ERA) will be facing Los Angeles for the 40th time in his career when he takes the mound Wednesday at Dodger Stadium for the fourth game in an extended five-game series. His 2.93 ERA against the Dodgers has come in a hefty 245 1/3 innings.

• The 33-year-old is coming off an outing Friday against the San Diego Padres when he gave up five runs on eight hits in five innings. It was the seventh time in his past nine starts that an opponent scored at least five runs against him. He has a 7.82 ERA and 0-6 record in that nine-game run.

• In two starts against the Dodgers this season, Bumgarner is 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings, but Arizona manager Torey Lovullo was not about to deny his veteran another matchup against his longtime nemesis.

• The Dodgers (103-45) will counter with right-hander Dustin May (2-2, 3.46), who is making his sixth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers still are putting together a pitching plan for the playoffs, with May’s role not yet decided. He could end up being a starter in the playoffs, or manager Dave Roberts could deploy him as a swing man, much like he did with both Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias in recent playoff runs.

• May last pitched Friday at San Francisco and showed he is worthy of a significant playoff role with five hitless innings. He walked just one batter after recording a combined eight walks in his previous two outings and was removed after throwing 69 pitches. Of primary concern is that May had to work his way through some arm soreness before the start against the Giants. He had an extra day of rest before the outing and was on a strict pitch count.

• The Dodgers split a doubleheader against Arizona on Tuesday and are now three wins away from tying the club record of 106 in a single season.

7/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Los Angeles Dodgers