One of the oldest rivalries in baseball resumes on Monday night as the San Francisco Giants head south to begin a four-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Giants-Dodgers prediction and pick.
San Francisco currently stands at 58-34 and is coming off back-to-back losses to the St. Louis Cardinals. If you put $100 on every single Giants game so far this season, you’d be up $1,855 on the moneyline.
Los Angeles is coming off a walk-off loss but a series win against the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers currently stand at 58-36 in second place in the NL West. If you put $100 on every single Dodgers game so far this season, you’d be down $462 on the moneyline.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Giants-Dodgers odds.
MLB Odds: Giants-Dodgers Odds
San Francisco Giants ML (+122)
Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-132)
Over 8 Runs (-113)
Under 8 Runs (-107)
*Watch MLB games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why The Giants Could Win This Game
The Giants send their best pitcher to the mound in what will end up being a critical series in the NL West race.
Kevin Gausman has been lights out this year, pitching to a 1.73 ERA and leading a San Francisco rotation that has been one of the best in baseball. Their are a few reason for Giants fans to be excited about this matchup, even against a potent Dodgers lineup.
For one, the righty has been cranking out quality starts since the beginning of the season. Gausman has pitched at least five innings and given up no more than three runs in five straight games. 16 of 18 of the Giants ace starts have gone this way, making him one of the more consistent pitchers in baseball.
Secondly, the Dodgers' offense is very reliant on the long ball and is third in the league in home runs. Fortunately for Giants bettors, Gausman doesn't give many up.
In 144 2/3 innings pitched, Gausman has allowed only eight home runs. In only one of his 18 starts has he allowed a multi-homer game, and that was at Great American Ball Park. Overall, if anyone's got a chance to quiet this Dodgers lineup, it's the man on the bump in this one.
At the plate, the Giants have a chance to get to Tony Gonsolin. San Francisco hasn't seen much of Gonsolin, but the hitters should have a clear angle to victory: patience at the plate.
Gonsolin has only gotten to the five-inning mark once in seven starts this season, and that's due to his erratic control. In 25 1/3 innings, the right-hander has walked 15 batters.
This plays into the hands of a Giants team that has drawn the fifth-most walks in the league. Against a pitcher the team has a combined eight plate appearances against, San Francisco should aim to run up the pitch count and look to scratch across a few runs to give Gausman the ball with a slight lead.
Why The Dodgers Could Win This Game
Despite a wild start to the season, Tony Gonsolin has seemed to settle down of late. After walking 10 guys in his 13 innings pitched in June, he has only walked five in the next 12 1/3 in July. While this still isn't exactly pinpoint accuracy, there has definitely been improvement in Gonsolin's control.
The man Dodgers fans call “Goose” should also be helped out by the fact that this Giants lineup is cold. San Francisco only scored one run in back to back games against the Cardinals, and had a total of 11 hits in those matchups.
The Giants will be coming into this game with nearly zero experience facing Gonsolin, and no Giant has more than two plate appearances against him. As long as he locates his splitter and limits the free passes, we could see the righty go further in this game than he has all season.
In the batter's box, the Dodgers have a tall task in getting runs on the board against Gausman. However, they didn't make it look too difficult the last time the two sides faced off.
Los Angeles handed Gausman one of his worst lines of the year, scratching across three earned runs in just five innings while also drawing five walks. The five freebies were the most Gausman has given up in any start this year.
The Dodgers should also get a huge boost with the return of Mookie Betts to the lineup. Betts missed the final two games in Colorado with a hip injury, but Dave Roberts has said he should return for this important series.
Betts has dominated Gausman historically, hitting .351 with three homers and seven RBI off the righty in 37 plate appearances. If Betts returns to his customary spot in the lineup, Gausman could face unwanted traffic on the basepaths early and often.
Final Giants-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
It may be tempting to take the Dodgers at such a low number here, but I would stay away from taking either side. I'm hesitant to touch either side as each pitcher has a shot to shut down the other team's offense. I'll comfortably play the under, as I expect Gausman to pitch six or seven quality innings, and Gonsolin should be effective as well. Play the under and watch these pitchers work their magic.
FINAL GIANTS-DODGERS PREDICTION: UNDER 8 RUNS (-107)
Follow Us
Subscribe