Dodgers News: Experts make NLDS predictions, 2024 arbitration projections released

Let's take a breather. The Los Angeles Dodgers have a playoff series on deck with the Arizona Diamondbacks and will face an NL West opponent in October for the fourth straight year. On paper, LA has the most favorable division series matchup without question, but nobody is overlooking the pesky D-Backs.

Before we go deeper into that, though, how about a quick peek into the Dodgers' 2024 situation. MLB Trade Rumors released its projected arbitration salaries for next year and fans can get a better look at the team's payroll situation by factoring these numbers in.

Dodgers 2024 Arbitration Salary Projections

• Walker Buehler: $8.03 million
• Ryan Yarbrough: $3.8 million
• Caleb Ferguson: $2.3 million
• Yency Almonte: $1.9 million
• Will Smith: $9.3 million
• Dustin May: $2.4 million
• Brusdar Graterol: $2.5 million
• Wander Suero: $900K
• Evan Phillips: $3.4 million
• Gavin Lux: $1.1 million
• JP Feyereisen: $1 million
• Alex Vesia: $1.2 million
• Victor Gonzalez: $1 million

This is Walker Buehler's final year of arb before he hits free agency. Same goes for Yarbrough and Ferguson. Everyone else is controllable through at least 2025. None of these salaries should affect the team's offseason spending.

OK! Now onto the playoffs.

Dodgers News: Experts make NLDS predictions

Experts across media have made their predictions for the Dodgers-Diamondbacks NLDS matchup. Where did everyone land?

Bleacher Report: Dodgers over Diamondbacks in 3

CBS Sports: Dodgers over Diamondbacks in 4

Yahoo! Sports: Dodgers over Diamondbacks in 5

ESPN: Dodgers over Brewers (????) -- the panel predicted the Brewers would beat the D-backs and then go on to lose to LA

The Athletic: Argued why both sides could win. YAWN

FanGraphs: Anything can happen

No help from ESPN, The Athletic or FanGraphs, but we at least have a consensus among the others that the Dodgers should advance to the NLCS.

As for our pick here at Dodgers' Way, we'd have to go with LA in 3. It's hard for us to believe Merrill Kelly, who's 0-11 lifetime against the Dodgers, will notch his first win against them on the road in Game 1 of the postseason series. Game 2 will feature Zac Gallen, but we're backing Bobby Miller in that contest in a hostile Dodger Stadium. Game 3 in Arizona won't be easy, but if it's a battle of the bullpens (Who is starting that game for the D-Backs? Brandon Pfaadt?), LA should cruise to a victory.

The Diamondbacks are a promising and pesky team, but this iteration of the squad has never been to the playoffs. Arizona last reached the NLDS in 2017 and got swept. Before that? 2011, and they lost 3-2. Last time they got past the DS was 2007, when they were swept in the NLCS.

The future is bright in the desert, but this is the worst possible matchup for them, given the Dodgers have their number in the division. It'll be a tough sweep, but LA will pull it off.