Stephen Nover's MLB Total of the Week
(MLB) Arizona vs. LA Dodgers,
Total: 8.00 | -120.00 Under
Result: Win
Two below average starting pitchers and two suspect bullpens make this a strong over play especially considering the quality of the offenses.




The Diamondbacks rank in the top 12 in batting average and runs scored. The Dodgers have socked 35 homers, most in the majors. They also rank in the top seven in runs and batting average.




LA has played 13 home games and in 69 percent of those games at least nine or more runs have been scored with the Dodgers producing five or more runs in nine of their last 10 home contests. Only Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati - a home run haven - has produced more homers per game than Dodger Stadium in the National League this year.




The over is 18-6-2 in LA's last 26 home games.




The Dodgers have outstanding outfield depth enough to overcome Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford being out. LA also has increased its infield power and gets to face Jeremy Hellickson. In the last three years, Hellickson's ERA has been 5.17, 4.52 and 5.24 this season courtesy of three of four bad outings. The high ceiling isn't there anymore for Hellickson. He is who he is - a bottom of the rotation type starter for a bad team.




Arizona, though, should get its share of runs squaring off against journeyman Scott Baker, pitching for his third team in three years. Baker has won just three times since 2011. The pitching-starved Rangers didn't want Baker back after he compiled a 5.47 ERA in 80 innings of work last year.




Baker shouldn't be in any major league team's rotation. He landed with the Dodgers because LA is without Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu.