There isn’t a lot left for the Dodgers to play for, if we’re being totally honest.
Despite another winter with hundreds of millions spent, the reigning World Series champions have had a somewhat underwhelming 2025. Though the team’s magic number to clinch the NL West is just three games, it seems impossible for Los Angeles to catch Philadelphia for the two seed and the bye in the Wild Card round. That means the Dodgers will be stuck participating in a best-of-three series against either the Reds, Mets or these Diamondbacks.
Who would start those contests for Los Angeles is also still up for debate. The Dodgers’ rotation is finally healthy, and Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto appear to be locks. But who would toe the rubber for a do-or-die Game 3? Could it be Shohei Ohtani? The likely MVP will get one last “audition” this evening in Arizona.
Let’s preview this intriguing divisional matchup with the help of some of those odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks prediction, preview
It’s hard to not be impressed with what Shohei Ohtani is doing at all times. I don’t think anyone needs a reminder about the 31-year-old’s ability to be both a top of the rotation starter and the best hitter in the National League, yet the former isn’t something that we’d seen since late in 2023. Ohtani, the pitcher, has been slowly built up by the Dodgers this season, with none of his first four appearances on the bump lasting more than two innings. However, Ohtani’s now thrown at least five innings twice in his last three starts, even registering 87 pitches back on August 27 versus Cincinnati. This isn’t empty volume, either.
Not only has Ohtani managed a sterling 2.12 FIP over his 41.0 innings in 2025, but he’s done so with career-best average fastball velocity (98.1) and a career-low 5.4% walk rate. Surprise, surprise. Shohei Ohtani is really, really good and really, really successful. At the same time, the Diamondbacks should present a playoff-caliber matchup for Ohtani. Arizona traded away both Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor at the trade deadline, yet the lineup remains an absolute force, leading the league in expected wOBA in the month of September (.347).
Brandon Pfaadt has also had a strong final month of the season, highlighted by a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Giants last Wednesday. That start came at Chase Field, as will tonight’s, and Pfaadt has been indescribably better pitching at home in 2025. While the RHP has a 7.29 ERA on the road, Pfaadt has maintained a 3.15 ERA and a 2.58 FIP in Arizona, where he’s surrendered only three of the 24 opponent home runs he’s allowed for the season as a whole. Go figure.
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks pick, best bet
Best Bet: Under 9 (-114)
Pfaadt’s 2.58 FIP at home is the fourth-lowest qualified mark in MLB. This is a sneaky great pitching matchup, despite the presence of two potent lineups.
Strong Lean: Mookie Betts 2+ Total Bases (-123)
Betts has owned Pfaadt throughout the RHP’s brief career, going 9-for-20 (.450) with a 1.300 OPS. Betts has also been on fire in September, registering a .312 average with a 169 wRC+.
