Dodgers vs. Giants NLDS Betting Odds
| Dodgers Series Price | -144 |
| Giants Series Price | +122 |
Series Schedule
- Game 1: Friday, Oct. 8, 9:30 p.m. ET, TBS
- Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 9, 9 p.m. ET, TBS
- Game 3: Monday, Oct. 11, Time TBD, TBS
- Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 12, Time TBD, TBS (if necessary)
- Game 5: Thursday, Oct. 14, Time TBD, TBS (if necessary)
Overview
This always felt inevitable, didn't it?
Even as the Cardinals took the Dodgers to the brink in Wednesday's NL Wild Card Game, it still felt fitting that it would come down to the 106-win Dodgers against the 107-win Giants with a chance to advance.
The Giants took the season series from Los Angeles, 10-9, and in the process snapped the Dodgers' eight-year stranglehold on the National League West.
Los Angeles is going for its second straight World Series title. San Francisco is trying to prove it belongs after such a successful regular season.
The winner will face the winner of Atlanta vs. Milwaukee in the NLCS.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Top Position Players
- Max Muncy
- Will Smith
- Justin Turner
- Mookie Betts
- Corey Seager
The offense has had its fits and starts, but this is still among the most dangerous offenses in baseball when everything is clicking.
Despite some frustratingly inconsistent stretches, the Dodgers still ranked as a top-10 offense by wRC and wOBA.
The center of attention has, for the most part, been Muncy, who should get some down-ballot MVP love with a consistent campaign in which he approached 40 home runs and had a sturdy on-base rate. Muncy left Sunday's season finale with a wrist injury, however, and his status for Wednesday is unknown as of this writing.
Betts has had a down season by his lofty, MVP-caliber standards, but is still among the most talented all-around players in the league. He battled injuries throughout the year but held down both right and center fields and has even spelled second base a bit.
One guy missing from this list is Cody Bellinger. The 2019 MVP has been dreadful when he hasn't been injured, and Los Angeles will hope he turns it on at the right time on Wednesday.
Projected Rotation
- Julio Urias
- Walker Buehler
- Max Scherzer
- Tony Gonsolin
The Dodgers have two Cy Young candidates on its staff, and its third-best pitcher was a postseason hero out of the bullpen a year ago.
Walker Buehler could pitch Game 1 on regular rest, but all indications are that LA will go with Julio Urias, who led the majors with 20 wins while posting a 2.96 ERA in 185 2/3 innings.
Buehler would get Game 2, which would provide the opportunity for him to come back in Game 5, if necessary.
Max Scherzer's start in the NL Wild Card Game wasn't his best, and the Dodgers' need to use him means we'll only see him once in this series. The earliest he can reasonably start is in Game 3.
Key Bullpen Pieces
- Kenley Jansen
- Blake Treinen
- Corey Knebel
- Alex Vesia
- Phil Bickford
Jansen has given Dodgers fans their share of stress-inducing moments over the years, but is entering the 2021 postseason in elite form. Jansen started the day on August 5 with a 3.27 ERA. Since then, he's made 27 appearances and has a 0.65 ERA, with 35 strikeouts against eight walks in 27 2/3 innings.
Behind him, the Dodgers' bullpen is a mixed bag. Treinen and Knebel are probably Dave Roberts' next most-trusted relievers, but Bickford, Vesia, Brusdar Graterol and Joe Kelly could all be seen, too.
The one thing for certain is we won't see Clayton Kershaw, as he was placed on the IL on the second-to-last day of the regular season.
San Francisco Giants
Top Position Players
- Brandon Crawford
- Buster Posey
- Kris Bryant
- Evan Longoria
- Mike Yastrzemski
Alot like their top-seeded counterpart in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Giants beat you despite not having an overwhelming superstar on their roster. Some may argue that man is actually Brandon Crawford, and that's fair, as Crawford is sure to receive some down-ballot MVP love after what was undoubtedly the best season of his career at the age of 34.
Crawford hit .298/.373/.522 with a career-high 24 home runs and a career-high 11 stolen bases. It was a blast from the past, and it was kind of a blast from the past for the entire roster, as Buster Posey turned in his best season since his peak, and Evan Longoria was good when healthy.
The Giants finished the regular-season with the fifth-best offense in baseball by wRC+ at 108. They ranked fourth in wOBA (.329) and drew walks at the third-best rate while striking out at the 12th-highest rate.
Projected Starting Pitcher
- Logan Webb
- Kevin Gausman
- Anthony DeSclafani
- Alex Wood
Kevin Gausman is the ace of this rotation, but he'll get Game 2 behind Logan Webb, who was a revelation in his own right this year. After two middling years where he was in and out of the rotation, Webb threw 148 1/3 innings with a 3.03 ERA, a career-best 9.6 K/9 and a sparking 2.2 BB/9.
Gausman will receive some Cy Young votes. He scuffled a bit in the second half, but still finished with a sterling 2.81 ERA in 33 starts and 192 innings. He struck out 227 against just 50 walks, and allowed fewer than one one run per nine innings.
Anthony DeSclafani revitalized himself after a nightmarish shortened season in Cincinnati. He had a 3.17 ERA in 167 2/3 innings, also upping his strikeout rate while lowering his walk rate.
Do we sense a trend here?
Key Bullpen Pieces
- Tyler Rogers
- Dominic Leone
- Jake McGee
- Jarlin Garcia
- Zack Littell
The Giants' bullpen was among the worst in baseball a season ago, but they completely remade it in 2021. Taking center stage was Tyler Rogers, who succeeds as a high-leverage reliever despite not overpowering stuff and underwhelming strikeout numbers. His 80 games led the majors, and he allowed just five home runs in 81 innings.
The Giants will mix-and-match their relievers with the best of them. Newcomers Jake McGee and Zack Littell were under-the-radar additions last postseason, and have proved effective all season long.
The Giants' bullpen doesn't have any big-name relievers like some of the other teams in the postseason, but it's among the most effective, and is a big reason they won 107 games.
