One of the most storied rivalries in American baseball is renewed this week as the L.A. Dodgers visit the San Francisco Giants. The teams have played a total of 2,560 times in the regular season and postseason, with the Giants holding a 1,274-1,264 edge (with 17 ties). The teams first met on May 3, 1890, when both teams played in New York City, and the Dodgers won the most recent matchup, a 9-1 laugher on Monday. Two elite pitchers take the mound on Wednesday as future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw will pitch for the Dodgers, and Alex Cobb, who put up huge numbers with Tampa Bay, will go for the Giants. Read our MLB betting preview of this NL West showdown before you lock in your wagers.
MLB Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
When: Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 9:45 pm ET
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco
TV: No National Broadcast
Radio: KLAC 570 AM Los Angeles / KNBR 680 AM San Francisco
Live Stream: Sling TV
Projected Pitching Matchup: Clayton Kershaw (1-1, 3.75 ERA) (LA) vs Alex Cobb (0-1, 2.57 ERA) (SF)
Why should you bet on the Dodgers?
The Dodgers (6-5) started out 5-2 before they got swept by Arizona to finish last week, as they continue to figure out how to optimize each new player on their roster. Cleanup hitter Max Muncy has gone just 4 for 33 so far this season, with 16 strikeouts. Jason Heyward and James Outman have played solid defense in the outfield, but the offense is still taking shape.
Clayton Kershaw makes his third start of the season on Wednesday. Both of his first two starts came against the Diamondbacks. On April 1, he threw six innings and permitted just one run on four hits, striking out nine in a sparkling 10-1 win. Last Friday, though, he struggled a bit. He went six innings once again, but he allowed four runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs, and he struck out just four while issuing his first two walks of the season in a 6-3 loss. He took the World Baseball Classic off to prepare for the season, and it seems to have worked. Will he get the offensive support that he needs?
Why should you put your money on the Giants?
Alex Cobb has pitched well in both of his starts so far, although he showed a lot more durability in his second outing. He opened on April 1 against the New York Yankees and lasted just 3 ⅔ innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, including a home run while striking out six and walking one. Last Friday, he lasted seven innings and permitted two earned runs on seven hits, including a home run, and he struck out six without a walk. Unfortunately, the Giants’ offense did no wake up in a 3-1 loss to a Royals team that is now 3-8.
The Giants’ offense has worked in fits and starts so far this season. During the opening weekend, they were shut out twice, but then they dropped 31 runs on the Chicago White Sox during a three-game series. Gary Sanchez signed a minor league contract on March 31, but he might be with the big club sooner than expected with Roberto Perez on the injured list with a strained rotator cuff.
Final Score and Prediction
Both starting pitchers have shown some durability so far this season, so this should be a game that features more pitching and defense than offensive fireworks. The Dodgers have the better roster to this point, at least on paper, so I predict a final score of Los Angeles 4, San Francisco 2.
Dodgers vs. Giants Game Highlights (4/10/23)
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