On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yu Darvish visit Zack Greinke and the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the NLDS at 10:05 PM ET. My free MLB playoffs pick for Monday is to take the Los Angeles Dodgers -111.
LA Raking
The Dodgers have been absolutely raking the ball in this series, putting up 17 runs on 24 hits through the first two games. Yes, those two games were in LA, but I still like taking teams that are currently producing at the plate.
Dominant Darvish
Yu Darvish has been “lights out” in his last three starts, allowing just one earned run in 19.1 innings. Active Arizona hitters own a combined .190 average, .547 OPS, and .248 wOBA in 63 plate appearances against Darvish. And a whopping 31 of those 63 plate appearances ended in a strikeout.
Zack Getting Jacked
Greinke has not pitched well lately, as he has given up 14 runs in just 11.2 innings over his last three starts. Active Dodgers hitters own a respectable .783 OPS and .339 wOBA against the Arizona righty.
Arizona has been living by the homer, producing six jacks in the first two games of this series (not that it has done them any good, as they sit in an 0-2 series hole). It should be noted that Darvish has not allowed a homer in his last three starts, and has allowed just two homers in 27.1 road innings since joining the Dodgers.
Darvish pitched in this ballpark back on August 10th. He allowed two runs (one homer) in five innings while striking out ten batters.
Lastly, the Dodgers bullpen is in much better current form than its Arizona counterpart.
Your Free MLB Playoffs Pick for Monday is…
Add it all up, and I like the LA Dodgers -111 as your free MLB playoffs pick for Monday.
