Don’t look now, but at the one-fifth mark of the 2020 MLB regular season, the Colorado Rockies are leading the National League West. Just a half-game behind them, though, sit the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have a 9-4 record and seem intent on ending a World Series championship drought that extends back to 1988. This weekend, they welcome the San Francisco Giants in a renewal of one of baseball’s classic rivalries.
Take a look at the pitching matchups for each game as well as our MLB betting odds and picks for the three contests.
MLB Betting: San Francisco Giants at L.A. Dodgers (August 7-9)
Series Games
Friday, August 7 (9:40 pm ET, ESPN+)
Saturday, August 8 (9:10 pm ET)
Sunday, August 9 (4:10 pm ET, TBS)
Series Details
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
Radio: KNBR 680 AM San Francisco / KLAC 570 AM Los Angeles
Live Stream: MLB.tv
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Friday: Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 9.31 ERA) (SF) vs Julio Urias (0-0, 2.45 ERA) (LA)
Saturday: Johnny Cueto (0-0, 4.97 ERA) (SF) vs Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 0.00 ERA) (LA)
Projected Pitching Matchups:
Sunday: Kevin Gausman (0-1, 5.27 ERA) (SF) vs Walker Buehler (0-0, 5.19 ERA) (LA)
Who should you Pick in Friday’s game?
Jeff Samardzija continues to make Giants fans pull their hair out, as the team spent a great deal of money to lure an already inconsistent pitcher away from the Chicago White Sox a few seasons ago. In 2020, his work has been dreadful. On July 28, he was shelled for five earned runs on four hits (including a pair of home runs) while striking out one and walking one. On August 2, he faced a Texas team that seemed to have left their offense at spring training but still gave up five earned runs on seven hits (with a long ball). That makes 9 ⅔ innings with 10 earned runs.
Julio Urias faced the Giants back on July 26 and threw five sparkling innings, permitting just one run on five hits, striking out three but also walking three. Against the Diamondbacks on August 1, he went six innings, permitting a pair of runs on five hits, fanning five and walking one. So he is throwing consistently well; against the Giants, he was the victim of an offensive drought as the team only managed a single run. Given how generous Samardzija has been to opposing batters, the Dodgers should feast.
Final Score Prediction:
Dodgers 6, Giants 2 | Check the Odds
Who should you Pick in Saturday’s game?
Johnny Cueto has made three starts in 2020, with middling results. He faced the Dodgers on July 23 and threw four strong innings, permitting one run on five hits in a game the bullpen would let get out of hand, as the Dodgers rolled to an 8-1 win. His form has not been so solid since then, as he has permitted seven runs (six earned) on nine hits (including two home runs) over 8 ⅔ innings combined against the Padres and the Rockies, fanning eight and walking five. If he can’t get that control back, the Dodgers will take advantage.
Clayton Kershaw has made one start in 2020, throwing 5 ⅔ innings of shutout ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 2. He scattered six hits while striking out six without issuing a single walk. The Giants have not been very consistent on offense, and if Kershaw deals like this again, the Dodgers will win easily.
Final Score Prediction:
Dodgers 5, Giants 1 | Check the Odds
Who should you pick in Sunday’s game?
The Giants have lost all three of the games that Kevin Gausman has started, including a 9-1 shelling at the hands of these same Dodgers on July 24. In that game, he went four innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits, including a home run. His next two starts featured 15 combined strikeouts in 9 ⅔ innings, but the Padres and the Rockies combined to tag him for seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and a walk. Gausman is finding too much of the plate with his pitches right now, and the Giants are paying the price.
Walker Buehler has not found his dominant 2019 form next year that had him in early conversations about a Cy Young Award this year. In his first start, the Astros scored two runs on three hits, including a home run, but the Dodger offense carried the team to a 5-2 win. Against the Padres on August 3, he gave up three solo shots, permitting three earned runs over five innings, in a 5-4 loss. If he can’t stay off the white part of the plate, the Giants should be able to take advantage.
Final Score Prediction:
Dodgers 8, Giants 6 | Check the Odds
