Published Mar 9, 9:32pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Mar 9, 9:32pm ET
Grok AI
|
|
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | -200 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +174 |
The D-Backs are 8-9 this spring. They made moderate changes to their 2025 roster, including adding 3rd baseman Nolan Arenado in a Cardinals' salary dump. Arenado is with Puerto Rico at the WBC. In fact, a big chunk of the D-Backs' big league roster is at the WBC, including Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, and Alex Thomas.
Corbin Carroll was supposed to play, but he's out with a broken hamate bone.
Against the Dodgers, Brandon Pfaadt takes the mound.
Pfaadt is a backend starter, but he's reliable to take the ball every 5th day. He's made one appearance this spring, tossing 2.1 innings, allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and striking out 1.
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar is batting .348 this spring with 3 homers. Pavin Smith is at .308 with 2 homers. Shortstop Jose Fernandez is batting .280 with 3 homers.
Tyler Glasnow has never started more than 22 games in a season. He's 32 and a 10-year veteran, but the Dodgers and the Rays before them seemed to understand that Glasnow is fragile and must be used cautiously so he'll stay healthy and be ready for the postseason.
When he's healthy, he's excellent with a strikeout rate of an average of 11 batters per 9 innings for his career. This spring, he's made one start, thrown 2 innings, struck out 4, walked none, and given up 1 run on 1 hit.
Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Edwin Diaz, and a few others are away at the WBC.
The 2-time defending World Series champs are 11-6 this spring.
Infielder Santiago Espinal is batting .500 with 2 homers in 24 plate appearances this spring. Newcomer and former Reds top prospect Nick Senzel is hitting .318 with 2 homers. Veteran Max Muncy is at .375 with 1 homer.
Both teams are shorthanded because of the WBC. The game is more important to Pfaadt and the D-Backs than it is for the Dodgers because Arizona has more questions it needs to answer. For the most part, the Dodgers opening day roster is set.
Of course, they need to watch Glasnow to ensure he is healthy.
With that, the underdog D-Backs should upset the Dodgers in this spring training battle.
|
Pick
Arizona Diamondbacks +174
|
New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
|
