Game: San Francisco Giants @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Odds: Giants +120, Dodgers -140
Total: 6.5
It’s the first meeting of the season between NL West rivals San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s a quick two-game set before the teams begin their weekend series. The pitching matchup is a good one as the Giants Carlos Rodon will go up against Julio Urias of the Dodgers.
The two teams, along with the San Diego Padres, are battling for first place in the division. The Dodgers are currently 14-7 and sit atop the NL West. San Diego is 15-8 while the Giants are a half-game behind both teams at 14-8.
Both teams could have even better records if they hadn’t suffered losses to inferior teams recently. San Francisco dropped two games to Washington – the Giants gave up 25 runs in the two losses – while the Dodgers lost two to Arizona, which is off to an 11-13 start.
Rodon is having himself a season so far in 2022. He is 3-0, winning each of his last three starts. His ERA of 1.17 is the third-best in the majors right now and his strikeout rate so far this season is 43.2 percent. In each of his first four starts, Rodon has struck out at least eight batters. That is a Giants’ franchise record. Rodon has been a nightmare for opposing hitters and the Dodgers will undoubtedly have a tough time with him tonight.
Urias has been almost as good over his last three starts. His first start of the season didn’t go so well. He lasted just two innings against Colorado. Urias allowed six hits and six runs, three of which were earned. The Dodgers went on to lose that game 9-4 to the Rockies. Since then, Urias has been more like himself.
In his last three starts covering 16 total innings, Urias has given up just four hits and two runs. He has struck out 15 batters across those 16 innings and his ERA now stands at 2.50. His last start was one of the losses (3-1) to Arizona last week.
Both teams have been playing well thus far in 2022. The Dodgers are 13-5 SU in their last 18 games. The Giants are 12-6 SU over their last 18. Los Angeles always seems to perform well at home. They are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games at Dodger Stadium. The Giants are equally as good on the road with five wins in their last six games away from home. The Giants are also 4-2 SU in their last six trips to Dodger Stadium.
The total has gone Over in four of the last five Giants games. The Dodgers are the opposite with five of their last six games going Under the total. L.A. is actually one of the more profitable MLB teams on the Under. The Under is 14-6-1 in Dodgers games this season. The two starting pitchers can take over games and the two bullpens are both in the top five in terms of ERA.