The Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks will meet Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Chase Field in the third game of their four-game National League West series, with the Dodgers entering the contest as the clear division leaders and heavy favorites. At 25–12, Los Angeles has looked every bit like a World Series contender early in the season, powered by elite starting pitching, a deep bullpen, and a star-studded lineup that has produced one of the highest run differentials in baseball. Shohei Ohtani has emerged as the offensive centerpiece, launching 10 home runs and continuing to produce in big moments, while Teoscar Hernández has been quietly outstanding, hitting .315 and driving in 34 runs. That combination of speed, power, and plate discipline has allowed the Dodgers to consistently pressure opposing pitchers, while the rest of the lineup—featuring Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith—makes every inning a potential rally. On the mound, the Dodgers have enjoyed tremendous success behind Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who comes into this matchup with a 4–2 record, a 0.90 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in just 40 innings pitched. Yamamoto’s blend of pinpoint command, deception, and velocity has overwhelmed hitters, and his ability to pitch deep into games has helped preserve a bullpen that has performed well when called upon.

Defensively, Los Angeles has kept errors to a minimum and continues to play smart, efficient baseball, which has contributed to a 23–10 ATS record—one of the best in the league. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, are 19–18 and searching for momentum in a division that remains highly competitive. Offensively, they’ve leaned on Corbin Carroll, who leads the team with 11 home runs, and Geraldo Perdomo, who’s provided timely hits and leads the club with 30 RBIs. However, the D-backs’ offense has been inconsistent, often failing to cash in on opportunities with runners in scoring position. Brandon Pfaadt is scheduled to take the mound for Arizona and has posted a respectable 5–2 record with a 3.79 ERA, giving the D-backs a chance if he can avoid the big inning and get deep into the game. The concern for Arizona remains their bullpen, which has been plagued by late-inning collapses and an inability to shut the door in tight contests, something they can ill afford against a lineup as deep and experienced as Los Angeles’s. Defensively, Arizona has also had its struggles, with errors in key moments that have extended innings and opened the door for opponents to rally. With the Dodgers thriving in games where they are significant moneyline favorites—they’ve won 18 of 24 in such spots—they appear well-positioned to continue their dominance in this matchup. For Arizona to pull off the upset, they’ll need Pfaadt to outduel Yamamoto, the defense to play error-free baseball, and the bats to take advantage of any rare mistakes from Dodgers pitching. But with the Dodgers firing on all cylinders, Thursday’s game is theirs to lose unless Arizona can deliver one of their most complete performances of the year.