Dodgers vs. Giants Odds
| Dodgers Odds | -1.5 (+155) |
| Giants Odds | +1.5 (-180) |
| Over/Under | 7 (+100 / -120) |
| Time | 9:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | TBS |
Editor's Note: The Dodgers will open with reliever Corey Knebel, and likely turn to presumed starter Julio Urias after that.
Unfortunately, baseball fans will only get one Game 5 for the Division Series. But it is only fitting we have a winner-take-all game between the top two teams in the sport — who went a combined 213-111 during the regular season.
Despite featuring two of the league's best offenses, pitching has been the story so far in this series.
San Francisco won Game 1 and Game 3 behind dominant performances from Logan Webb and Alex Wood, while Los Angeles took the even numbers behind Julio Urias in Game 2 and Walker Buehler in Game 4.
Both teams will roll out a winning pitcher on Thursday, with the winner moving onto the NLCS to take on the Atlanta Braves.
For the Dodgers, it would be their fifth trip to the NLCS in the last six years. The Giants would be returning to the NLCS for the first time since their 2014 World Series win.
Dodgers Depending on Urias
Los Angeles will send Game 2 winner Julio Urias (LHP) to the mound on four-days rest.
Urias tossed five innings, allowing just one run and three hits to give the Dodgers their first win of the series on Saturday.
At just 25-years-old, Urias is already in his sixth big league season. He was an incredible 20-3 — the most wins in the league — while posting a 2.96 ERA this season. He has not taken a loss since June 21.
Thursday will already be his 20th postseason game (fifth start) of his career and he has a 2.68 ERA in the playoffs. His postseason ERA is 1.29 over the last two seasons.
Offensively, the Dodgers have been alternating games this series. They were shutout in the first and third games. The other two, they posted nine and seven runs.
They finished the season ranked seventh in wOBA and wRC+, but suffered a big loss with Max Mancy getting injured. Muncy is in the MVP discussion and has been L.A.’s best player all season.
A very good sign for the Dodgers has been the breakout of Mookie Betts. After a down season from the former MVP, Betts now has multiple hits in three of LA’s five postseason games.
Catcher Will Smith is also having a terrific series for them.
Will Webb Continue His Success?
The Giants will bring back Game 1 starter Webb (RHP).
What a playoff debut it was for the 24-year old. Webb pitched into the eighth inning, allowing just five hits while shutting out the Dodgers. He racked up 10 strikeouts and didn’t give up a single walk.
Webb was able to pound the zone with his changeup and come back and get the Dodgers to chase his slider all night. He has been tremendous all year, going 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA and no losses since May 5.
San Francisco has great pitchers and a dominant bullpen, but its offense has been near the top of the league all season, as well. They finished the year fourth in wOBA and fifth in wRC+ and hit the second-most home runs in the league.
Losing Brandon Belt has been a big loss for this lineup as they are averaging just 2.25 runs through the first four games. They've scored more than two runs just once this series.
Trade deadline pickup Kris Bryant leads the Giants this series, batting .462 with a home run and two RBIs. San Francisco will need a big game from him, as well as Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford to move on.
Dodgers-Giants Pick
San Francisco has been the best team in the league for pretty much the entire season. The Giants finished with the best record in baseball to give themselves home-field advantage for this exact game.
I backed the Giants and Webb in Game 1 and saw nothing in that game not to want to back them again in this spot.
Webb posted a 2.71 ERA and 2.69 xFIP in his 16 starts after the All-Star break and the Giants went 14-2 in his outings. He was absolutely dominant in the series opener. He has also been unbeatable at home this year, literally. San Francisco is 13-0 in Webb’s home starts this season.
With Webb on the mound, an elite bullpen, a lineup due to break out and home-field advantage, I will back San Francisco to advance to the NLCS on Thursday.
The line is currently even at -110 and while I expect the public to back the Dodgers and push the Giants to plus money, I would play the Giants down to -115.
Pick: San Francisco Giants ML -110
