The Los Angeles Dodgers (1-0) will host the Arizona Diamondbacks (0-1) on Saturday in the third game of their season opening four game series. The Dodgers took the opener 8-2 on Thursday night and Friday's game had not yet gotten underway at the time of this preview. In 2022, the Dodgers took 14 of the 19 head-to-head meetings, including seven out of nine in Los Angeles.
The Arizona Diamondbacks went 74-88 last season and finished fourth out of five teams in the National League West. This season the Diamondbacks are expected to finish fourth again, according to the odds on BetMGM.
The Diamondbacks didn't make a big splash in free agency over the offseason but made a substantial trade by sending slugger Gary Varsho (27 HR 74 RBI in 2022) to Toronto in exchange for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (.343 OBP, 52 RBI) and for a young catcher Gabriel Moreno (7 RBI in 25 games in 2022). Arizona's offense will also hope for another big season from Christian Walker who broke out with a career-best 36 home runs, 94 RBI, and a 5.1 WAR last season.
Congratulations to @NickAhmed13 on becoming the first player in #Dbacks history to play in 10 seasons with the club! ?? pic.twitter.com/X2o4TsNtju
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 31, 2023
Arizona has two of the best starters in baseball, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who pitched the series' first two games. Gallen took the decision in Arizona's 8-2 loss on Thursday. On Saturday, the veteran Madison Bumgarner is set to take the mound. Bumgarner went 7-15 with a 4.88 ERA last season, including 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers.
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