Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Pick: LA Sends Yamamoto to Tame the Snakes (May 8)

• Our Dodgers vs Diamondbacks pick looks at two bitter NL West rivals meeting in the desert
• LA starts Yoshinobu Yamamoto; Arizona responds with Brandon Pfaadt
• Yamamoto has been one of MLB‘s best starters
• The Dodgers have vaulted to 1st place in the division; Arizona is treading water at 19-18, in 4th place

Yamamoto Has Given Up 4 Earned Runs This Season

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been dominating so far in 2025. He has an MLB-leading 0.90 and has already accrued a 1.5 bWAR in 7 starts. In 4 of his starts, he has not allowed an earned run. He has struck out 49 in 40 innings and allowed 24 hits, walking 13. In his last start against the Braves, he pitched 6 innings, allowed 1 hit, walked 2, and struck out 6.

For the Diamondbacks, only Ketel Marte and Eugenio Suarez have hits against Yamamoto. Marte is out with a hamstring strain.

LA has Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, both of whom have an OPS above 1.000. As always, they hit a ton of home runs. So far, free agent signee Michael Conforto has been a disaster with a .510 OPS. Max Muncy isn’t hitting much better. Teoscar Hernandez has a .933 OPS with 9 homers.

Pfaadt Has Been One of Arizona’s Most Consistent Starters

Brandon Pfaadt was having an excellent season before his last start against the Phillies. He gave up 6 earned runs in 4.2 innings, and his ERA ballooned from 2.78 to 3.79. Still, that was the first start in which he didn’t pitch into the 6th inning. He has given up 43 hits in 40.1 innings, walked 7, and struck out 35.

For the Dodgers, ironically, Conforto is one of their best hitters against Pfaadt. In 7 at-bats, he has 3 hits and 2 home runs. Freddie Freeman is 4 for 13 with 2 doubles and a home run. Kikè Hernandez is 4 for 9 with a double and a home run. Ohtani is 2 for 6 with a double. Mookie Betts is 4 for 11 with a double.

Arizona’s Corbin Carroll is back to being one of MLB’s most dynamic players with a .297 batting average, a .370 on-base percentage, and 11 home runs. Geraldo Pedromo is blossoming into a star with a .285/.395/.454 slash, 5 home runs, and 9 stolen bases without getting caught. Pavin Smith is slowing down after his scorching start, but still has a .960 OPS.

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks Pick: Yamamoto Maintains His Dominance

Arizona has been alternately winning and losing. They’ll look great one game and get knocked around the next. Although Pfaadt has pitched well, his last start signifies that he might be regressing slightly. Yamamoto has been unstoppable and will lead LA to a win.