Last summer, they combined for 213 wins against just 111 defeats, and by season’s end only one game separated the two bitter rivals. And yet after an offseason of roster shuffling, here are the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers yet again separated by the thinnest of hairs heading into their first of 19 regular-season clashes.
A quick glance at the NL West standings reveals Los Angeles in a virtual first-place tie with the Padres, both squads just a half-game ahead of San Francisco. And a quick glance at the Giants vs Dodgers odds for Tuesday’s opener of a quick two-game series at Dodger Stadium reveals L.A. as a modest home chalk.
The starting pitching matchup features two southpaws who have been dealing early on in 2022. So much so that oddsmakers don’t believe there will be a lot of toes touching home plate — they’ve posted a total of just 6.5.
Props.com analyzes Giants vs Dodgers odds and ends in this anticipated rematch of last October’s thrilling five-game National League Division Series.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 8:40 p.m. ET on May 3.
San Francisco Giants (14-8) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (14-7)
First Pitch/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET/TBS & MLB.TV
Moneyline: Dodgers -133/Giants +123
Run Line: Dodgers -1.5 (+152)/Giants +1.5 (-185)
Total: 7 (Over +100/Under -120)
Pitching matchup: LHP Carlos Rodon (3-0, 1.17 ERA, 0.83 WHIP) vs. LHP Julio Urias (1-1, 2.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP).
Season series: First meeting. The teams split 24 meetings last year, with San Francisco going 10-9 in the regular season and Los Angeles winning the best-of-5 NLDS, 3-2.
Did you know: The Yankees (10-3) have the most home wins in MLB, while the Padres and Mets (both 9-4) have the most road triumphs. However, based on winning percentage, the Dodgers (8-2) have baseball’s best home record, while the Giants have the best road record mark (8-3).
About the Giants
Hits & Misses: San Francisco has followed up a season-high five game winning streak by losing three of its last four, all at home. After a 1-0 loss to Oakland on Wednesday, the Giants dropped two of three to the Nationals, surrendering 25 runs in the two defeats. San Francisco opened the season by playing 19 games in 20 days, but has had two of the last five days off, including Monday. Despite the struggles against Washington, the Giants head south with baseball’s fourth-lowest ERA (3.06). The pitching also has surrendered the fewest home runs (11 in 22 games). Offensively, San Francisco leads all of MLB in runs per game at 4.95 (just head of the Dodgers at 4.86).
Rodon vs Dodgers: Rodon has been nothing short of spectacular in his first four starts in a Giants uniform. The former White Sox hurler has allowed just three runs (no more than one any outing) and 19 baserunners (11 hits, eight walks) while striking out 28 in 23 innings. Rodon has won his last three starts against the Guardians (road), Mets (road) and A’s (home). The Giants outscored those three foes 17-5. The southpaw has made just two career starts against the Dodgers, both a month apart in summer 2017 for the White Sox. He allowed a combined seven runs on 12 hits and seven walks in 11 innings, with L.A. winning 9-1 in Chicago and 5-4 at home.
Key injuries: OF (and former Dodger) Joc Pederson is questionable with a groin injury. Fellow OF Austin Slater also is questionable with a knee bruise.
About the Dodgers
Hits & Misses: Los Angeles was off Monday after taking two of three from the Tigers over the weekend at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have split their last eight games against Detroit, Arizona and San Diego, middling results that follow a 9-1 run. The team’s offense has been sporadic during the recent eight-game stretch, plating three runs or fewer in all four losses. However, the pitching staff continues to shine. L.A. leads MLB in team ERA (2.33), WHIP (0.94), hits allowed (127), walks allowed (48), runs and earned runs allowed (55 and 48), and opponents’ batting average (.190). The Dodgers are also second to the Giants in homers allowed (11).
Urias vs Giants: Since surrendering six runs (three earned) in two innings in his season debut in Colorado, Urias has been just as good as Rodon. The lefty from Mexico limited the Reds, Padres and Diamondbacks to two runs, four hits and six walks while fanning 15 in 16 innings. The Dodgers cashed in the gems against Cincinnati (5-2 home win) and San Diego (6-1 road win), but came up short Wednesday in Arizona (3-1 loss). Urias made six starts against the Giants last season, and the last four were sensational. He allowed a single run in each contest, walked just two and struck out 23 in 23.1 innings (1.54 ERA). In fact, Urias posted a 38-4 K/BB ratio in his six starts vs. San Francisco in 2021, but the Dodgers only split those contests.
Key injuries: RP Tommy Kahnle (elbow) has been activated from the injured list after completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery. However, nine other pitchers remain sidelined, including three on the 60-day IL, four on the 10-day IL and two — RPs David Price and Mitch White — on the COVID list.
Notable Trends
- SF is on runs of 38-13 on the road, 44-16 vs. the NL West and 21-5 after a day off
- LAD is 47-14 in its last 61 home games (all as a favorite)
- LAD is 39-17 after a day off
- Over is 4-1 in SF’s last five overall
- Under is 5-1 in LAD’s last six overall
- Including playoffs, the total has alternated in the last seven Giants-Dodgers battles (last game: Under)
Giants vs Dodgers Odds and Action
UPDATE 8:40 P.M. ET TUESDAY: The Dodgers opened as -137 favorites at WynnBet and have trickled down to -133, with 65% of bets and 56% of money on Los Angeles. The total opened at 6.5 (Over -125) and has moved to 7 (Under -120), with 53% of bets and 62% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 2 P.M. ET TUESDAY: Caesars Sportsbook opened the Dodgers as a -145 favorite Monday night, dipped to -140 within a couple of hours and has since held firm at that number. San Francisco is +120 on the moneyline. The total opened at 6.5/Over -120, but the number jumped to 7/Under -115 at about 10 a.m. ET this morning. It remains 7/Under -115.
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Giants vs Dodgers odds and action updates.
