The Los Angeles Dodgers (60-30, 30-13 home) hosts the San Francisco Giants (48-43, 22-21 away) to begin the second half of the season with a four-game series beginning Thursday night. San Francisco owns a 3-2 head-to-head record against the Dodgers in previous games played this season.
The first pitch of the series opener is at 10:00 p.m. EST at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles opens as the betting favorite at -155, and the over-under total is 8.5 runs.
What to Know – San Francisco Giants
San Francisco opens up the second half winning five of their last six contests, including the final three. While the Giants have had the Dodgers’ number this year, San Francisco trails L.A. by 12.5 games in the National League West.
The expected starter for the Giants is left-hander Carlos Rodon (8-5, 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP). Rodon was a workhorse for San Fran in the first half, tossing 105.0 innings while surrendering 31 earned runs on 82 hits and 35 walks with 131 strikeouts.
Wilmer Flores leads the Giants’ charge on offense with 51 runs batted in and 47 runs scored. Joc Pederson appeared in his second All-Star game earlier in the week thanks to 17 home runs and 43 RBIs in the first half.
The Giants are 21st in the majors with a .238 team batting average that produces 4.8 runs per game. San Francisco’s pitching staff ranks 12th in the league sporting a 3.82 team earned run average.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers ended the first half with the best record in the NL and the second-best mark in the majors. L.A. owns a comfortable ten-game lead in the NL West.
Right-hander Mitch White (1-2, 4.20 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) is the probable starter for the hosts. The 27-year-old will try and pick up his second victory of the season and first since mid-May. White has served out of the bullpen but will be making his ninth start of the year.
The All-Star lineup is stacked from top-to-bottom, but the hitting of Trea Turner in the first half led the team. Turner hit .306, driving in a team-high 68 RBIs behind 14 home runs.
Mookie Betts spent some time on the injured list but still managed to lead the Dodgers with 20 home runs. Freddie Freeman came alive after a slow start to hit .321 in the first half, fourth in the MLB.
Los Angeles scores 5.1 runs per contest behind a .255 team batting average that is fifth in the MLB. The pitching staff for the Dodgers is the best in the majors, with a 2.96 team ERA.
The Pick is In
Los Angeles has had a lot of success this year, but the Giants have figured out how to defeat the Dodgers more times than not in 2022. Rodon keeps the L.A. offense at bay, and the Giants jump out on White early. Give us the road team and the plus-money to kick off the second half.
Pick: San Francisco Giants ML
