Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants Betting Preview – 9/3

Sep 3, 2021

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Game: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants 

Time: 9:45 PM ET 

Starting Pitchers: David Price vs. Anthony DeSclafani 

Odds: Dodgers -114, Giants +104 

The Dodgers and Giants begin a crucial three-game weekend series tonight in San Francisco. The two teams are tied for the best record in baseball (85-49) and for the NL West Division lead. The Giants were in control of both the best record and the division for most of the season. A 16-3 run by the Dodgers coupled with the Giants’ recent losses to Milwaukee have evened the slate. 

The two teams have the best pitching rotations in baseball. LA will start left-hander David Price, who has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his appearances this season. Price was working out of the bullpen for much of the season but returned to the rotation.

He is 4-2 overall with a 3.88 ERA. Price has not pitched more than 4.2 innings in his last three starts, which means the Dodgers bullpen will likely be involved early tonight. That suits LA just fine as their relievers have the fourth-best bullpen ERA in the majors. 

Price will contend with a Giants lineup that leads the majors in home runs. It’s interesting that San Francisco has the most homers in the majors yet they don’t have a player with more than 21. The Giants have cooled off recently though and dropped to ninth in runs per game (4.75). Over their last five games, the Giants’ run totals were 0, 1, 2, 2, and 5. They lost four straight, including three to Milwaukee, before beating the Brewers 5-1 last night. 

The Giants will counter with Anthony DeSclafani. The Giants right-hander was outstanding early in the season, but he has struggled more recently. He still holds a respectable 11-6 record with a 3.38 ERA, but his last seven starts have been less than desirable. 

His ERA in those starts is 6.04 and that’s not all. In five starts against the Dodgers this year, DeSclafani has given up 22 earned runs in 21 innings. That’s an ERA of 9.43. It’s a wonder that the Dodgers are only a -114 favorite given DeSclafani’s numbers against them this season. 

The Giants won two of three games against LA the last time the teams met. That series was also in San Francisco. The Giants entered all three of those games as the underdog as well. San Francisco has the second-best home record in the majors, but they are just 6-8 as a home underdog. 

Tonight’s total is intriguing as well. Both pitchers and bullpens are capable of shutting down opponents. Playing at Oracle Park may also influence the total tonight. Six of the last eight games played at Oracle Park have totaled eight or fewer runs. Four of those games totaled six or less and that includes an extra-inning game.  

The conditions tonight will feature temperatures below 60 degrees with high humidity. The heavy air could have an impact as could a 15 mph wind that will be blowing from home plate to the outfield.