Bitter rivals will return from the All-Star break to begin a four-game series on Thursday night when the San Francisco Giants visit the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Francisco enters in third place after taking three of four from the Milwaukee Brewers entering the break, capped off by a 9-5 win on Sunday as a -155 favorite. The Dodgers finished off a two-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 7-1 win on Saturday as a -217 favorite, and continue to own the best record in the NL at 60-30.
San Francisco holds a narrow 3-2 advantage in the season series thus far after last year finished deadlocked at 12 wins apiece including the playoffs.
After struggling for much of July, the Giants looked more like themselves the last week of the first half, including winning three straight over a good Brewers team to head into the break. The offense was rolling on Sunday as the Giants plated five in the third innings highlighted by LaMonte Wade Jr's three-run homer, while Brandon Belt later hit a two-run shot.
Logan Webb cruised to another win, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings. Austin Slater was on base four times including a double and scored a pair of runs, while Belt drove in three overall.
“This is what we wanted, we wanted some momentum going into the All-Star break,” said Belt via the Associated Press. “It was important for us to get going (so) we could carry some of those good vibes and that momentum into the break so we can come out on th e other side feeling good and ready to go. It’s definitely a big boost of confidence for us.”
The Giants are still down a fair amount on the money line for the season while going 45-46 on the run line. Overs are 45-42-4 for the Giants, with two of their last three games going over the betting total.
This powerful offense ranks third in the Majors with 4.80 runs per game on a .724 team OPS that is inside the top 10. The Giants pitching staff has been much stronger of late, bringing its overall numbers to a 3.84 collective ERA including a mark of 4.19 from a shaky bullpen.
Austin Slater is having a fantastic season with a .303/.406/.461 line, 22 RBI and 32 runs scored. All-Star Joc Pederson has been a key free agent pickup with an .848 OPS, 17 homers and 43 driven in.
Carlos Rodon is set to make his 19th start of the season, having gone 8-5 with a 2.66 ERA and 131 strikeouts acros s 105 innings in the first half, numbers that earned him an All-Star nod. The 29-year-old went five innings against the Brewers last Thursday, allowing one run on eight hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford recently hit the IL with knee inflammation, joining catcher Curt Casali (strained oblique), third baseman Colton Welker (shoulder surgery) and second baseman Tommy La Stella (COVID). Starting pitchers Matthew Boyd (flexor tendon surgery) and Anthony DeSclafani (ankle surgery) are out. The bullpen is missing Sam Delaplane (Tommy John surgery), Jose Alvarez (elbow inflammation), Mauricio Llovera (strained flexor) and Zack Littell (strained oblique).