Stephen Nover's MLB Total of Week
(MLB) Arizona vs. LA Dodgers, 04/13/2016 6:10 PM, Score: 1 - 3
Total: 7.50 | 100.00 Under
Result: Loss
Early in the season, oddsmakers are more prone to making a mistake in the line. I believe that is the case with this total. It opened too low at below 8. There are two capable offenses here operating against bottom of the rotation starters, who are not in good form.

The Diamondbacks are pitching Rubby De La Rosa, who so far has yet to show he's deserving of being in a big league starting rotation. De La Rosa throws hard - but straight. This is a big reason why he has a 4.61 career ERA and has pitched fewer than six innings during each of his last six starts with a 7.66 ERA during this span.

The Dodgers are quite familiar with De La Rosa, who came up with them. De La Rosa is 0-3 with an 11.21 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers. The Dodgers' offense gets a boost with the return from the DL of catcher Yasmani Grandal and infielder Howie Kendrick, who is 10-for-18 lifetime against De La Rosa.

Dodgers starter Alex Wood showed promising potential a couple of years ago with Atlanta. But the southpaw disappointed last season and he wasn't sharp in his first game this season giving up five runs in five-plus innings in a 12-6 loss to the Giants this past Thursday. To stop the Diamondbacks, Paul Goldschmidt must be contained. Goldschmidt is 4-for-9 against Wood with a pair of homers and two walks.

The Diamondbacks are 16-5-2 (76 percent) to the over the past 23 times they've faced a lefty. This series has an over bias, too, when played in LA with the over cashing 69 percent of the time at 20-9-1.

Brian Gorman is scheduled to be the home plate umpire. The over has cashed 68 percent of the time he's been behind the plate the past 20 times.