ARIZONA vs. LA DODGERS 8/30/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The suddenly hot Los Angeles Dodgers look to post a season-best sixth consecutive victory when they open a crucial four-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. The Dodgers have outscored their opponents 34-13 during the winning streak to move within one game of the first-place Diamondbacks in the National League West.Cody Bellinger, Yasmani Grandal and Manny Machado all hit solo homers in Wednesday’s 3-1 triumph over the Texas Rangers as Los Angeles remained 1 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the NL’s second wild-card spot. “I think we’re cooking as a whole team right now,” Bellinger told reporters. “It’s just a matter of producing on the field. It’s just a matter of time until the talent takes over.” Arizona salvaged the finale of a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants by recording a 3-1 win Wednesday to move a half-game ahead of the Colorado Rockies. Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock is 3-for-28 over the last eight games but has tormented the Dodgers this season by batting .348 with seven homers, four doubles and 12 RBIs in 12 games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-2, 4.73 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (6-4, 3.50)

Ray has received seven consecutive no-decisions and is 0-2 over his last 10 turns. The 26-year-old allowed one run and five hits and struck out seven over five innings against the Seattle Mariners in his last outing. Ray is 2-0 with an 0.89 ERA in his last three starts against the Dodgers and is 6-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 13 career outings against Los Angeles.

Hill is 0-5 in seven starts against Arizona since joining the Dodgers – including 0-1 with a 12.00 ERA in two 2018 outings – and stands 1-6 with a 5.90 ERA in 11 career turns against the Diamondbacks. The 38-year-old defeated the San Diego Padres in his last turn when he gave up two hits and struck out eight over six scoreless innings. Hill is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA over his last seven starts and has allowed two or fewer runs in six of them.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Diamondbacks are 8-4 versus Los Angeles this season, including 3-2 at Dodger Stadium.

2. Struggling Los Angeles RHP Kenley Jansen (heart issues) is expected to be available for closing duties Thursday, though manager Dave Roberts opted to use RHP Kenta Maeda to close out Wednesday’s win.

3. Arizona had three runs on 16 hits in the three-game series with the Giants and had gone 25 innings without a run until RF Steven Souza Jr. led off the third inning Wednesday with his first homer since Aug. 5.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 4