Arizona Diamondbacks vs Los Angeles Dodgers Picks and Predictions May 9th 2025

Rivalry Rekindled in the Desert

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split 23 of their last 32 meetings, including a dramatic 2023 Division Series sweep by Arizona. Thursday’s opener saw Brandon Pfaadt silence Los Angeles for 6⅓ innings before Gabriel Moreno’s grand slam provided the winning margin. With the series knotted 1–1, both clubs will lean on familiar foes as pride and postseason positioning hang in the balance at Chase Field.

Pitching Matchup: Sasaki’s Debut vs. Rodríguez’s Adjustments

Rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki makes his first start of the year after a five-day rest, bringing a triple-digit fastball and nasty splitter to the hill. He logged 98 pitches in his last outing and owns a 3.50 ERA on the road, where his cross-country breaks seem to bite harder. Opposing him, lefty Eduardo Rodríguez hopes to rebound from three rough starts, relying on a refined changeup and sinker to induce contact. Though Rodriguez boasts double-digit strikeout games, he prefers to pitch to contact and preserve his pitch count, aiming for six innings of steady work.

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Offensive Spotlight: Moreno’s Impact and L.A.’s Depth

Gabriel Moreno’s fourth-inning grand slam underscored Arizona’s power potential, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte can equally punish mistakes. On the Dodgers’ side, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman boast a combined .345 on-base rate this season, while Teoscar Hernández drives runs in crucial spots. Both lineups will test each pitcher’s sequencing, searching for barrels early and manufacturing runs against the opposing bullpen.

Strategic Keys: Defense and Bullpen Matchups

Fielding efficiency could tip the scales—Arizona’s infield turned two key double plays Thursday, while Los Angeles committed four errors in the same game just last week. Late innings will belong to the bullpens: the Dodgers’ back end features a high-leverage setup from Evan Phillips, while the D-backs counter with Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald. How each manager juggles holds and matchups will decide which club seizes late-game control.

Wager Window

With two starters who excel at inducing weak contact and bullpens primed for low-scoring drama, consider exploring our linked <a href=”https://example.com/mlb-betting-picks”>MLB Betting Picks</a> for series-long value, including first-five-inning lines and key prop breakdowns.