San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers betting preview
Starting pitchers
Jeff Samardzija RHP (0-1, 9.31 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) vs. Julio Urias LHP (1-0, 2.54 ERA, 1.27 WHIP)
Jeff Samardzija continues to do Jeff Samardzija things: pitch mediocre baseball games and get paid a lot of money to do it. The Giants’ veteran right-hander has allowed five runs in each of his first two starts in 2020, surrendering 11 hits over 9 1-3 innings, including two dingers. He’ll need to turn things around quickly if he wants to last long in this matchup with the Dodgers.
Julio Urias may be the Dodgers forgotten man in the rotation, now that Dustin May looks awesome. Urias was the Dodgers former top pitching prospect, and very quietly he is beginning to show us why. The lefty has allowed three runs on 10 hits over his first two starts this season, relying mostly on a four-seamer and a changeup. And he’s had plenty of success against the Giants in his short career.
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Weather
It’s Los Angeles. So, clear skies and temperatures in the high 70s at game time with minimal wind. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Injuries
Giants: Sam Coonrod RHP (Out)
Dodgers: Edwin Rios 3B (Questionable), Alex Wood LHP (Out), Joe Kelly RHP (Suspension)
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting Trend to Know
The Giants are mostly playing tight games when they are listed as road underdogs, with the Under going 5-2-2 when they are getting plus money away from home. Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Dodgers.
Home Run Prop Pick
The Dodgers offense is humming, despite the fact that guys like Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Justin Turner aren’t hitting the ball overly well so far this summer. Bellinger and Muncy are both hitting below the Mendoza Line and Turner has yet to go yard. That is fairly surprising for Turner, considering he has averaged 21 homers a year over the last five seasons.
But maybe the Giants coming to town will get him started. The team has allowed the 23rd-most more runs per game this season and our favorite joke Samardzija (how much money has he made per win?) has already allowed three dingers in just 9 1-3 innings this season. We’re trying to hit a homer on Turner hitting a homer tonight.
PREDICTION: Justin Turner Over 0.5 Home Runs (+400)
Total Pick
Despite all the Samardzija jokes out there (and in here), he actually has performed at his best when he goes against the Dodgers. Since 2017, the right-hander has made five starts against L.A. and surprisingly has pitched to a 3.39 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP in those games.
Despite those good numbers, it just feels like Samardzija is good to give up at least three runs to this version of the Dodgers lineup, which ranks in the Top 10 in runs, OPS and home runs. This is important because, as we mentioned, Samardzija has had a problem with the long ball and he’ll then have to hand the ball to a Giants bullpen that ranks 23rd in the MLB with an ERA of near 5.50 and sits 22nd in WHIP.
Additionally, the Giants veteran lineup has been competent this season, ranking sixth in batting average will striking out very little. While they face a tough Dodgers staff on Friday, they should be able to produce enough to send this one over the number.
PREDICTION: Over 9.0 (-110)
Runline Pick
Urias loves going against the Giants through the early part of his career. Through 13 games (seven starts) Urias owns a 1.40 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and is limiting the Giants to a .221 batting average, which includes five innings of one-run ball on five hits earlier this year.
Urias also has the support of a fantastic bullpen. Dodgers relievers rank fourth in ERA and WHIP and are limiting opponents to a .180 batting average so far in 2020.
Now, taking runline favorites at home is not my favorite thing to do, since you usually lose the final at-bat, but there is too much going in the Dodgers favor here. Samardzija won’t be able to rely on past results here — take the Dodgers by a couple of runs.
PREDICTION: Dodgers -1.5 (-135)
Giants vs. Dodgers betting card
- Justin Turner Over 0.5 Home Runs (+400)
- Over 9.0 (-110)
- Dodgers -1.5 (-135)
