Giants vs Dodgers Pick: Hated Rivals Renew Acquaintances in LA (Jun 13)

• Our Giants vs Dodgers pick analyzes one of MLB‘s historic rivalries with the teams battling for 1st place in the NL West
• San Francisco is 41-28, has won 8 straight games, and is right behind LA in the standings
• LA is hanging onto the top spot in the division despite a rash of injuries to its starting rotation

Giants’ Hot Streak Coincided With Drastic Roster Moves

Giants President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey understands ballplayer psychology from his playing career, which will likely result in his enshrinement in the Hall of Fame. It goes beyond the numbers and extends to dropping a figurative bomb in the middle of the clubhouse. That is what he did when he dumped underperforming first baseman and longtime Giant LaMonte Wade Jr.

They also designated backup catcher Sam Huff for assignment and sent infielder Christian Koss to Triple-A. The Giants’ hot streak, in which they have won eight straight, coincided with these moves.

It’s not as if Wade’s replacement, Dominic Smith, has been good. Because he hasn’t. But the simple act of holding players accountable regardless of veteran status and how long they’ve been with the organization sends a clear message.

The Giants are now one game behind the Dodgers. Logan Webb takes the hill. Webb is quietly one of baseball’s top starters. This season, he has a 2.58 ERA and leads the NL with a 2.13 FIP. In 87.1 innings, he’s given up 84 hits and 25 earned runs, walking 17 and striking out 101. In his last three starts, he’s thrown 20 innings, given up 19 hits, 5 earned runs, walked one, and struck out 27.

Against Webb, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is 15 for 36 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs. Freddie Freeman is 14 for 37 with 3 doubles and a home run. Max Muncy is 9 for 27 with 2 doubles and 3 home runs.

The Giants will need an offensive boost at the deadline, largely because big free agent signing Willy Adames has been a disaster with a .627 OPS and 7 home runs.

LA Has Been Treading Water

The Dodgers’ pitching injuries are starting to catch up to them. Shohei Ohtani is ramping up his mound work, but now it’s because the team needs his arm and not solely because he wants to pitch.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been one of the few Dodgers starters who’s managed to stay healthy all season. He is having a fine year with a 2.20 ERA in 13 starts. Over 73.2 frames, he’s allowed 49 hits and 18 earned runs. The righty rebounded from his shaky start against the Yankees with 6 shutout innings against the Cardinals.

The Giants have had limited exposure to Yamamoto. Wilmer Flores is 1 for 3 with a single. Heliot Ramos is also 1 for 3 with a single. Casey Schmitt is 0 for 2, and Mike Yastrzemski is 0 for 3.

LA’s offense has carried them while the pitching has been patched together. Freeman leads the NL in hitting, and Ohtani leads the NL in runs, home runs, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, and total bases. Andy Pages has been an unsung hero with an .807 OPS and superior outfield defense.

Giants vs Dodgers Pick: Webb Pitches the Giants to a 1st Place Tie

The Giants and Dodgers send their best starters to the mound in the first game of this weekend showdown. LA has played about .500 ball for a month and will need reinforcements in its starting rotation if it wants a chance to repeat as champions. The Giants are on a scorching hot streak that will continue behind Webb.