Giants vs. Dodgers MLB Odds, Pick: NLDS Game 3 Betting Preview (October 11)
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images. Pictured: Max Scherzer
- The Dodgers are favored with Max Scherzer on the mound tonight in Los Angeles.
- San Francisco counters with former Dodger Alex Wood, who hopes to help the Giants steal a road win.
- Continue reading for a full breakdown of the matchup, including a betting pick.
Giants vs. Dodgers Odds
| Giants Odds | +180 |
| Dodgers Odds | -215 |
| Over/Under | 7 (-120 / -102) |
| Time | 9:37 p.m. ET |
| TV | TBS |
The two NL West rivals finished with the two best records in baseball and battled for the division right down until the end. So it is not surprising the series between The Giants and Dodgers began with a 1-1 split in San Francisco.
The series now shifts south down the Golden State to Los Angeles where no team won more games in their home ballpark than the Dodgers.
San Francisco did manage to go 6-4 at Dodger Stadium this season, and only one other team managed a winning record in LA.
This game caps off a phenomenal four-game day long baseball slate, so whether you’re finishing a great day, or looking to chase the early games, let’s find the best bet for the night cap.
Giants' Wood Faces Former Team
The Giants opened the series with a gem from 24-year old Logan Webb, and now San Francisco will start a 30-year-old for the second-straight game as Alex Wood (LHP) gets the ball for Game 3. Wood’s last postseason appearance came in this very ballpark in Game 6 of the World Series last year when he tossed two scoreless innings in relief to help the Dodgers win the World Series.
After pitching five-and-a-half seasons in Dodger blue, Wood went 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 3.44 xFIP in his first season with the Giants. His main pitch is a sinker which he throws 46.4% of the time, and he also has a terrific slider. The veteran has made 20 postseason appearances, posting a 3.55 ERA.
The Giants finished the season fourth in wOBA and fifth in wRC+ on the season, and slugged the second-most home runs in the league. They were top five in both categories against right-handed pitchers, like the one they’ll face Monday.
Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford have turned back the clock and been San Francisco’s best players all season and it is no surprise that has continued in the playoffs. The two are a combined 7-for-16 through the first two games, and have each hit a home run.
Dodgers' Offense Hopes To Continue Breakout Behind Scherzer
Fresh off allowing one run in four and a third innings in the NL Wild Card Game against St. Louis, Max Scherzer (RHP) will get the ball again for Game 3. The Cy Young contender went 14-5 this season with a 2.46 ERA and 3.24 xFIP.
Since being traded to the Dodgers, Scherzer has gone 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 11 starts. The 2019 World Series champion will be making his 20th playoff start and 24th appearance and has posted a 3.33 ERA in the playoffs.
After scoring just three runs in the first two postseason games, the Dodgers' offense broke out for nine runs on Saturday. They got hits from eight of the nine spots in their lineup, with Chris Taylor, AJ Pollock and Will Smith leading the way.
Los Angeles will need to continue to have players step up with the loss of Max Muncy, who has been LA’s best player this season. Pollock (LF) and Taylor (CF) will likely earn another start on Monday with former MVP Cody Bellinger finding himself on the bench against a lefty.
Giants-Dodgers Pick
Betting games involving Scherzer is always difficult because you either need to pay a premium price, or bet against one of the best pitchers of this generation. While Mad Max might win his fourth Cy Young Award this season, this number is far too high.
Nobody on San Francisco is more comfortable pitching in Los Angeles than former Dodger Alex Wood. He has also been nails for the Giants in these spots, when they need to bounce back. Thirteen times after a loss this season the Giants have given the ball to Alex Wood and they went 12-1 in those games.
I don’t care who is pitching, the 107-win San Francisco Giants shouldn’t be at +180 odds against anybody. The Dodgers might be more likely to win than not, but this number is too good to pass up.
This season, when San Francisco has been an underdog of +155 or more, they went 7-3. In fact, four of those games came against the Dodgers, and the Giants went 4-0, with three of the wins coming in Los Angeles. Take the value with the Giants.
Also, if you like playing props make sure to read Tanner McGrath's Daily Player Props article. He is red-hot right now. and they are must read. But, I also saw two in this game that I like.
In three games against the Dodgers this season, Wood had seven, eight and seven strikeouts, I like him to go over 4.5 (+100) strikeouts in this one.
I also like Brandon Crawford to go over 1.5 total bases. He is 3-for-8 with a home run already this series and is hitting .412 with three doubles and two home runs in 17 career at bats against Scherzer.
Pick: San Francisco Giants +180 (Play to +160)
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