The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have split the first two games of this set — Arizona took the opener 4-1, LA punched back 6-5 — and now we get the pitching matchup the whole series was built around. Ohtani (5-2, 0.82) draws Gallen (3-4, 5.16) in a spot where the gap on paper is roughly the size of the Grand Canyon.
Ohtani's last time out he carried a no-hitter into the 7th against Colorado, finishing 6 innings of 1-run, 7-strikeout ball on 99 pitches. The 4 walks are the only thing keeping the line from being completely silly. Gallen, on the other hand, got tagged for 5 runs on 8 hits in 5 innings against Seattle on May 29, and his May ERA finished at 7.04. The four-seamer just isn't missing bats — a 5% whiff rate on the pitch this season, per SI's Diamondbacks coverage.
The market has noticed. Pinnacle has the Dodgers at -181 with a total of 8.5, and the Diamondbacks +1.5 priced almost like a coin flip at -102. That's about as lopsided as a divisional game gets without a clear bullpen-day tag, and it tells you exactly what the books think of Gallen right now.
LA is doing this with a pitching staff held together by tape — Glasnow still hasn't gotten past playing catch on his back rehab, Snell is going under the knife for the same nano-scope procedure Tarik Skubal had in May, and Teoscar Hernandez is roughly a month away from returning from the hamstring. Arizona is no healthier: Corbin Burnes just threw to a hitter for the first time post-surgery, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is still working back, and Carlos Santana hit a setback on his rehab Sunday.
- 10-Day-ILTeoscar Hernandez LF — Hernandez (hamstring) said Saturday that he expects to return from the injured list in about a month, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILEnrique Hernandez 1B — Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks after sustaining a "significant tear" of his left oblique during Tuesday's 15-6 win over the Rockies, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrock Stewart RP — Stewart faced live hitters early this past week but is still experiencing discomfort in his left foot, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILTyler Glasnow SP — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts relayed Saturday that Glasnow (back) "hasn't gotten over the hump" to increase his throwing progression beyond playing catch, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol RP — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
- 60-Day-ILTommy Edman 2B — Through three rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Edman (ankle) has gone 4-for-9 with two runs and a 1:3 BB:K.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Snell SP — Snell (elbow) will undergo the same "nano scope" procedure Tuesday that Tarik Skubal had earlier in May, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILEvan Phillips RP — Phillips (elbow) is facing hitters Tuesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DayA.J. Vukovich CF — no
- Day-To-DayDerek Law RP — no
- Day-To-DaySpencer Giesting SP
- Day-To-DayKyle Amendt RP — Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 10-Day-ILLourdes Gurriel Jr. LF — Gurriel (hamstring) appears on track to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League as soon as next Monday, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJames McCann C — Manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that McCann (quad) will likely be sidelined for 4-to-6 weeks, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCristian Mena RP — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that Mena underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Santana 1B — Santana suffered a setback with his right adductor strain Sunday while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
If there's a path for the D-backs, it's that Chase Field has been kind to fastballs that don't move, and Ohtani's 4 walks last time out are a reminder that the command isn't always there yet on the mound. Get him in some long counts, work the bullpen — which is missing Graterol, Phillips, and Stewart — and 8.5 starts to look catchable. But Gallen has to give them something resembling 5 clean innings first, and right now that's the bet nobody wants to make.