Nearly a year ago, the San Francisco Giants went 10-9 in the regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers and won the NL West by a single game. But not before losing the first four meetings to their bitter rivals from the south, including a 2-1 defeat in Round 1.
So it’s unlikely another Round 1 loss to kick off the 2022 season series will leave the Giants questioning whether they belong in the ring with their bitter division rivals.
After Los Angeles eked out a 3-1 victory Tuesday night, Giants vs Dodgers odds are back on the MLB betting board Wednesday. Despite not naming a starting pitcher until nearly midday West Coast time, Los Angeles is once again favored at home — which makes sense, considering the club has lost just twice in 11 games at Dodger Stadium.
Props.com dives into Giants vs Dodgers odds for the capper of a brief two-game series in Wednesday’s marquee matchup on the National League betting board.
Odds via WynnBet and updated as of 5:20 p.m. ET on May 4.
San Francisco Giants (14-9) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (15-7)
First Pitch/TV: 10:10 p.m. ET/MLB Network & MLB.TV
Moneyline: Dodgers -155/Giants +145
Runline: Dodgers -1.5 (+130)/Giants +1.5 (-160)
Total: 7.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
Pitching matchup: LHP Alex Wood (2-1, 4.19 ERA, 1.35 WHIP) vs. Tony Gonsolin (1-0, 1.59 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
Season series: Dodgers lead 1-0 after posting a 3-1 victory Monday night. Going back to the beginning of the 2021 season — and including a five-game playoff series — Los Angeles is 13-12 against the Giants.
Did you know: Even with Monday’s low-scoring result, San Francisco and Los Angeles rank second and third, respectively, in runs per game in MLB. The Giants are averaging 4.78 per contest, while the Dodgers are putting up 4.77.
About the Giants
Hits & Misses: San Francisco followed up a season-high five game winning streak by losing four of its last five, including the last two. The Giants haven’t had a three-game losing skid all season. The pitching staff still has baseball’s sixth-lowest ERA (3.07) and third-lowest bullpen ERA (2.63). That staff has held 17 of 23 opponents to three runs or fewer and has surrendered a league-low 11 home runs. And while the offense was stymied Monday, it’s still produced at least four runs in eight of the last 10 contests. That said, the Giants have just one player — infielder Wilmer Flores (.269) — with a batting average above .247.
Wood vs Dodgers: Wood is coming off his worst outing of the season. Facing the Nationals at home on Saturday, he yielded five runs on eight hits in five innings of a 14-4 loss. That was in stark contrast to the southpaw’s first three starts, during which he allowed four runs in 14.1 innings. Wood still sports a solid 19-5 K/BB ratio, but he’s given up a home run in three of his four outings. The 31-year-old went 31-21 with a 3.54 ERA in two stints with Los Angeles over parts of five seasons (2015-2018; 2020). In three regular-season starts against his former mates last year, Wood gave up nine runs in 17 innings (4.77 ERA). The Giants lost all three games by the combined score of 14-10. However, he helped pitch San Francisco to a 1-0 playoff victory over the Dodgers, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings.
Key injuries: OFs Mike Yastrzemski (COVID list) and Lamont Wade Jr. (knee-injured list) are expected to be activated prior to Wednesday’s game. Also, fellow OF (and former Dodger) Joc Pederson (groin) pinch-hit in Tuesday’s game and is expected back in the lineup Wednesday.
About the Dodgers
Hits & Misses: Los Angeles is just 5-4 in its last nine games, but Monday’s victory pushed the club a half-game ahead of San Diego in the NL West. San Francisco is 1.5 games back. The offense managed just five hits Monday and has plated three runs or fewer in five of the last nine contests. On the flip side, the pitching staff continues to shine. L.A. leads MLB in team ERA (2.27), WHIP (0.95), hits allowed (133), walks allowed (51), runs and earned runs allowed (56 and 49), and opponents’ batting average (.190). The Dodgers are also second to the Giants in homers allowed (13). In the series opener, Julio Urias and four relievers limited San Francisco to six hits (five singles, one double). L.A.’s 9-2 home record is MLB’s best.
Gonsolin vs Giants: Gonsolin hasn’t pitched since April 26, when he surrendered a season-high three runs (two earned) in a 5-3 loss at Arizona. The right-hander only allowed four baserunners (three hits, one walk) and struck out five in four innings. In three previous starts, Gonsolin yielded just one run on eight hits and seven walks across 13 innings. He’s faced the Giants three times (two starts) in his four-year career, going 0-2 with a 4.32 ERA (four runs allowed in 8.1 innings). The 27-year-old southern California native is 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA in 17 career appearances (16 starts) at Dodger Stadium.
Key injuries: Aside from multiple starting and relief pitchers on the injured list indefinitely, Los Angeles is healthy.
Notable Trends
- SF is on runs of 38-14 on the road and 37-14 vs. the NL West
- SF is 1-5 in its last six as an underdog
- LAD is 40-11 in its last 51 home games (all as a favorite)
- LAD is 6-1 in Gonsolin’s last seven home starts (playoffs included)
- Under is 4-1-1 in SF’s last six road games
- Under for LAD is on runs of 6-1 overall, 5-1 at home and 4-0 in Gonsolin’s starts this season
- In this rivalry, Under is on runs of 7-3 overall and 3-1-1 at Dodger Stadium
Giants vs Dodgers Odds and Action
UPDATE 5:20 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The Dodgers hit WynnBet’s MLB odds board as a -148 favorite exactly three hours ago, and the line has since ticked up to -155. Most of the action is on Los Angeles to the tune of 67% tickets and 92% money. The total opened 7.5/Over -115 but the juice has now flipped to 7.5/Under -115. Three-quarters of the action is on the Under at 74% bets/75% cash.