It’s been a heavyweight battle in the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers. Two 100-win teams going back and forth, trading blows, and hitting each other where it hurts the most. The Giants have the upper hand, as they are just a win away from eliminating their archenemy. But will the Dodgers tie the series up in Game 4? With that said, it’s now time to read our Giants-Dodgers prediction and preview.
Here’s how the bookmakers have set the lines for this Giants vs. Dodgers NLDS Game 4 matchup.
MLB Odds: Giants-Dodgers Odds
San Francisco Giants +1.5 (-150)
Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+130)
Over 7.5 runs (-115)
Under 7.5 runs (-105)
Why the Giants Could Cover
Anthony DeSclafani has been spotty this season against the Dodgers, but one thing about the 31-year-old right-hander is that he was sensational the last time he faced Los Angeles. That was on Sep. 3, when he blanked the Dodgers for six innings while fanning five hitters and allowing just two hits in a 3-2 Giants victory at home. In his most recent outing, DeSclafani tamed the San Diego Padres for five innings, allowing zero runs and just four hits for his 13th win of the season.
DeSclafani enters Game 4 with a 13-7 record in the regular season and a 3.17 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 31 total starts. As for the Giants’ offense, it could only get easier for them in Game 3 after getting past Max Scherzer. The Dodgers haven’t named a starter as of this writing of Giants-Dodgers prediction and preview, but even if they go with Walker Buehler, that means starting their ace on short rest. Although the Giants managed to eke out just a run in Game 3, that helps magnifies their 4-0 record in their last four games following an outing in which they scored just two runs or fewer.
Why the Dodgers Could Cover
As mentioned earlier in this Giants-Dodgers prediction piece, the Dodgers haven’t officially named a starter just yet, but the belief is that it’s going to be Tony Gonsolin, who’ll be toeing the rubber first for Los Angeles in the all-important Game 4. The 27-year-0ld is well-rested. He last saw action on Sep. 30 during an 8-3 home win over the Padres, wherein he surrendered three earned runs on four hits across 4.2 innings of mound duty. The Dodgers’ pitching staff hasn’t been particularly overpowered by San Franciso’s offense in this series.
The Giants, in fact, have the worst OBP (.208) in the playoffs among all teams that made it to the League Division Series round. That plays nicely into Gonsolin’s ability to strand batters at a high rate. Among all Dodgers pitchers with at least 50 innings logged this season, Gonsolin is second overall with an 86.2 LOB%. Offensively, the Dodgers are looking to light up DeSclafani — again. In six starts against the Dodgers this year, DeSclafani has gone 0-3 with a 7.33 ERA and .300 OBA. Dodgers hitters are also looking at a taxed Giants bullpen, with Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval going 1.2 and 3.0 innings long in Game 3, respectively.
Final Giants-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
This has been an awesome series, thus far. The Dodgers will have familiar success against DeSclafani to force Game 5 in San Francisco. For this Giants-Dodgers prediction, I'm going with the Dodgers' run line.
FINAL PICK: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+130)
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