Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks: Game 1, prediction, odds, injuries and picks

Despite a roster held together with glue and duct tape, the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers head to the desert for Thursday's opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, perched atop the NL West standings. Tonight marks the first clash between the rivals this season, with the D'backs winning seven of their 13 meetings a year ago.

Dave Roberts gets the luxury of sending NL Cy Young Award favorite Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound for the opener, while the D'backs will counter with Brandon Pfaadt, who has been tougher to solve on the Chase Field bump.

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks recent form and records

Los Angeles

Winners in 25 of their first 37 games, the Dodgers are one of only 12 teams that've made money for MLB bettors to this point of the season. The overall return on investment chimes in at $387. It must be noted, however, the team's 10-9 road record finds the team $178 in the red away from Chavez Ravine.

Arizona

The Diamondbacks dropped back-to-back series on Wednesday after losing the finale to the Mets. In doing so, Torey Lovullo's troops fell to 19-18, amounting to a -$67 overall return on investment for their $100-per-bet supporters. Arizona enters this extended series a game under .500 at home (-$241), and sitting fourth in the division standings.

Injuries

Los Angeles

Tyler Glasnow SP Day To Day - Shoulder
Teoscar Hernandez RF Ten Day IL - Groin
Tommy Edman 2B 10 Day IL - Ankle
Evan Phillips RP 15 Day IL - forearm
Blake Treinen RP 15 Day IL - Forearm
Michael Kopech RP 15 Day IL - Shoulder
Blake Snell SP 15 Day IL - Shoulder
Kyle Hurt SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Edgardo Henriquez SP 60 Day IL - Foot
Emmet Sheehan SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Clayton Kershaw SP 60 Day IL - Toe
Michael Grove RP 60 Day IL - Shoulder
Brusdar Graterol RP 60 Day IL - Shoulder
River Ryan SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Gavin Stone SP 60 Day IL - Shoulder

Arizona

G. Moreno C Day To Day - Undisclosed
A.J. Puk RP 15 Day IL - Elbow
Justin Martinez RP 15 Day IL - Shoulder
Kendall Graveman RP 15 Day IL - Back
Jordan Montgomery SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Blake Walston SP 60 Day IL - Elbow

Starting Pitchers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-2, 0.90 ERA in 2025)

Allowed 24 hits (2 HR) & 4 ER with a 49:13 K/BB ratio in seven 2025 starts.
Worked 6.0 IP of 1 hit (0 HR) 0 ER ball with 6:2 K/BB ratio at Braves last start.
2-0 with a 1.46 ERA & 13:3 K/BB ratio in 12.1 career IP thrown vs. the D'backs.
3-1 with a 0.38 ERA and 25:6 K/BB ratio in 24.0 IP on the road in 2025.

Brandon Pfaadt (5-2, 3.79 ERA in 2025)

Allowed 43 hits (7 HR) & 17 ER with a 35:7 K/BB ratio in seven 2025 starts.
Worked 4.2 IP of 9 hit (2 HR) 6 ER ball with 6:1 K/BB ratio at Phillies last start.
2-2 with a 6.20 ERA & 26:7 K/BB ratio in 20.1 career IP thrown vs. the Dodgers.
3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 19:4 K/BB ratio in 24.0 IP at home in 2025.

Must-Watch Hitters

Los Angeles

Though Mookie Betts flashed some leather in yesterday's 10-1 win over the Marlins in his return to the lineup, he posted another forgettable showing for his fantasy and player prop backers. Though hitless in his last two games, Betts did take a pair of walks and registered his first RBI in four games.

Maybe that carries over to today against Brandon Pfaadt, whom he's 4-for-11 against lifetime with a double and 2:2 K/BB ratio. He's +110 to go for 2+ bases and +160 to tally back-to-back RBIs at Chase Field — the road park where he's thrived most in divisional play throughout his career as a member of the Dodgers.

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Arizona

After erupting for 11 runs in the series finale win at Philadelphia, the D'backs scored 10 combined runs battling the Mets' pitching staff over the three-game set. Take that offensive eruption against the Phillies out of the equation, and Arizona has only plated an average of 3.1 runs in its last eight games.

Things aren't likely to improve tonight, running up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who's allowing 5.4 hits per nine innings. Should you want to test fate in the hits market, Ketel Marte is the bat you'll want to hitch your wagon to with the infielder 2-for-4 lifetime with a pair of walks against the Japanese import.

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Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks MLB 2025 Betting Odds

Thursday 5/8	Money Line	Run Line	Total Runs
Los Angeles Dodgers	-166	-1.5 -102	O 9 -108
Arizona Diamondbacks	+140	+1.5 -112	U 9 -112

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks expert picks and game prediction

Look for the opener to be competitive from the jump. Yamamoto deserves to be the moderate favorite in this matchup as well. The righty has pitched through his first seven starts. However, LA simply gives him zero run support, evidenced by the 2.8 runs they've given him on average in his last five starts.

Brandon Pfaadt's home/road splits are eye-opening. The righty has done his best work in the desert, where he's the owner of a 2.25 ERA and three quality starts. The Dodgers should get ahead of the run-line late at DraftKings Sportsbook against the Snakes' beatable bullpen, but getting there won't be easy.

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks Prediction: Los Angeles Wins 4-2

About the author

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Kansas with dreams of becoming an orthopedic surgeon and team physician. However, his career path took a different turn as he ventured into sports handicapping, writing, and editing.

While preparing for the MCAT, Mike applied to contribute to a site offering free sports picks, which proved to be a pivotal step. His success there garnered interest from larger platforms and startups. Despite his efforts, organic chemistry derailed his medical school ambitions, and he chose to shift fully into sports betting and fantasy sports content creation.

Over a 20-year career, Mike has navigated the highs and lows of professional sports betting. His experience spans working on a late-night sports talk radio show, covering the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League, managing a content distribution company, owning and operating a vape shop, and creating one of the first profitable DFS affiliate sites—an endeavor that helped buy his current home.

When offline, Mike enjoys working out his green thumb, coaching his son’s sports teams, hosting tea parties with his daughter, and relaxing with his wife and friends. A die-hard Kansas Jayhawks fan, he also proudly bleeds Cubbie blue.

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Edited by Mike Rose