NL West foes are set to meet on Tuesday in Phoenix. The Dodgers (38-22) have been as dominant as ever, sitting atop their division yet again. It’s a different story for the Diamondbacks (32-27), who have clawed their way into postseason contention. After earning a 4-1 victory on Monday, Arizona can clinch a series win against the defending champs tonight. Will Los Angeles avoid another upset?
The Dodgers are favorites (-120) over the Diamondbacks, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Tuesday’s showdown between Los Angeles and Arizona on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks pick, best bet
Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks prediction, preview
Part of what’s made the Dodgers so successful in recent years is their ability to find hidden gems. Los Angeles is hoping to strike gold yet again with Eric Lauer. The southpaw has struggled for most of 2026 (5.95 ERA, 1.39 WHIP). The veteran was designated for assignment by Toronto on May 11th, eventually getting traded to LA in exchange for cash considerations. During his first game with the defending champs last week, Lauer held the Rockies to one run over six innings. It’s not as if the right-hander is a complete unknown. Last season, he recorded a 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 104.2 innings pitched with the Blue Jays.
Even if there’s reason for optimism, a look under the hood should give Dodgers fans concern. Lauer ranks inside the bottom 15th percentile in xERA (5.62), whiff rate (19.3%), strikeout rate (16.3%) and barrel rate (13.2%). In addition, his fastball tops out at 90.5 MPH, among the worst marks in baseball. Against pitches of 92 MPH or slower, Arizona hitters have recorded a .254 expected batting average, .325 on-base percentage and .440 slugging percentage. As a unit, the D-Backs are scoring the 12th-most runs per game in the sport (4.54). If nothing else, the Snakes are consistent; they’ve scored four or more runs in nearly two-thirds of their contests this season.
It’ll be Mike Soroka toeing the slab for Arizona this evening. It’s been a terrific campaign from the righty, providing some much-needed stability in this Arizona rotation. Through 12 starts, he’s recorded a 3.25 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 60 strikeouts (8.9 K/9). Much of the veteran’s success can be traced back to his fantastic 5.5% walk rate. Still, he has had a tendency to give up solid contact. Soroka has given up 8.7 hits per nine innings pitched this season.
Soroka has managed to overcome his propensity for allowing base hits against most clubs. However, that might be wishful thinking against Tuesday’s opponents. The Dodgers lead all of baseball with a .262 batting average and .343 on-base percentage. They’re averaging 5.90 runs per game on the road this season, second only to the Braves (5.97). Los Angeles has scored 58 runs over its last ten matchups, fourth-most in the majors during that stretch.
Best Bets: Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks over 9.5 runs scored (-102)
Both of these deep, dangerous lineups possess several high-quality hitters. It helps that this one takes place at Chase Field, one of baseball’s most hitter-friendly venues. Soroka and Lauer are no slouches, but I’d rather take my chances with Arizona and Los Angeles at the plate tonight. Following Monday’s low-scoring affair, a shootout in the desert feels likelier than not.
