There have been some incredible games in the history of the Dodgers–Giants rivalry over the years, and Friday’s almost surely will be added to that list as the teams with the two best records in MLB this season meet in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the NLDS. The Giants are very short favorites.

How to Bet Dodgers at Giants MLB Odds & TV Info

• When: Thursday, 9:07 PM ET
• Where: Oracle Park
• Probable pitchers (away/home): Julio Urias/Logan Webb
• TV: TBS
• Stream/gameday audio: TBS app
• Opening MLB Lines: Giants -110, Dodgers +110 (total 7)

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

The Dodgers evened the series at 2-2 with a 7-2 home win in Game 4 on Tuesday. Operating on three days’ rest, Walker Buehler limited the Giants to one run over 4 1/3 innings. In his first-ever start on short rest in the regular or postseason, Buehler had to pitch out of a first-and-third, one-out jam in the second inning but otherwise didn’t face much trouble. Presumably, Buehler will be the only Dodgers pitcher NOT available for this game.

Mookie Betts had a two-run home run and drove in three runs. Betts’ first home run of the series was an opposite-field shot off of Jarlin Garcia in the fourth inning which had been preceded by Walker Buehler reaching on an error. He also plated an additional run on a sacrifice fly with a deep drive with the bases loaded. The home run was the fourth of Betts’ postseason career over 44 games.

Catcher Will Smith went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and a walk. Smith has hits in each of the first four games in the NLDS and has gone 6-for-15 with two home runs, two doubles, three runs and three RBI during that time.

If the Dodgers lose this game, it likely will be the last with the team for free agent shortstop Corey Seager. He is the reigning NLCS and World Series MVP, becoming the second Dodger in franchise history (Orel Hershiser in 1988) to win the NLCS and World Series MVP in the same season. Seager currently ranks second all-time in franchise history in doubles, homers (11) and RBI (31).

It’s lefty Julio Urias (20-3, 2.96) on the mound. Urias made history in his regular-season finale, becoming the fourth Mexican-born pitcher to win 20 games, joining Fernando Valenzuela (1986), Teddy Higuera (1986) and Esteban Loiaza (2003). He is the Dodgers’ first 20-game winner since Clayton Kershaw in 2014 and the first in the NL since Max Scherzer in 2016. Urias’ .870 winning percentage was fifth all-time in MLB history behind Randy Johnson (.900, 1995), Ron Guidry (.893, 1978), Max Scherzer (.875, 2013) and Clayton Kershaw (.875, 2014) (Minimum 25 starts).

He pitched Game 2 vs. the Giants, allowing one run on three hits over five innings. The 25-year-old struck out five and issued just one walk, throwing 50 of his 72 pitches for strikes. He wound up being lifted for a pinch-hitter during the Dodgers four-run uprising in the sixth inning. He also drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single off of Kevin Gausman in the second inning.

Why Bet on San Francisco?

Beginning with the 2010 postseason, the Giants have gone 38-19 in postseason play, going 18-9 at home and 20-10 on the road.

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said that he expects second baseman Tommy La Stella to be ready for NLDS Game 5. La Stella continues to be bothered by tightness in his left Achilles tendon — he departed early from NLDS Games 3 and 4. Even if La Stella isn’t well enough to start, he’ll almost certainly make an appearance off the bench as a pinch-hitter.

In Tuesday’s loss, Kris Bryant reached base three times and drove in a run. He was the only Giants player to reach base even two times. Bryant has now reached base seven times in the four games this series and has started at a different position each contest.

It’s Logan Webb (11-3, 3.03) on the mound. Webb enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2021, setting career bests in virtually every category. From May 11 through the end of the regular season, Webb’s 2.40 ERA was second-best in the Majors (min. 20 games started) only to the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler, who posted a 2.32 ERA in that time. Over his final 20 starts of the season, Webb went 10-0 with that 2.40 ERA…the streak of 20 consecutive starts without taking a loss matched an SF-era record (also Jack Sanford in 1962).

Webb, at 24 years and 330 days old, will be the youngest pitcher in Giants franchise history to start a winner-take-all postseason game. In Game 1, he struck out 10 in 7 2/3 scoreless innings as the Giants beat the Dodgers 4-0. Webb was dominant in his first career postseason start, allowing five hits and walking none. Besides the 10 strikeouts, 11 of his remaining 13 outs came on the ground.

Game Trends

• Dodgers are 40-16 in their last 56 Thursday games.
• Dodgers are 15-6 in their last 21 Divisional Playoff games.
• Giants are 7-2 in their last 9 Thursday games.
• Giants are 13-4 in their last 17 playoff home games.
• Dodgers are 13-6 in the last 19 meetings in San Francisco.
• Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

Expert Prediction

• Giants 3, Dodgers 2

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