Oh, nothing like a Dodgers-Giants matchup to spice up our day, ladies and gents. We're headed to Oracle Park where neither batter nor pitcher is particularly favored - everybody loves a fair playing ground, no?
Let's cut the small talk and talk route cause - the pitchers. The Dodgers are wheeling out Dustin May. Yes, arguably questionable with his 4.58 ERA, but he can still strike 'em out, racking up an 8.5 K/9 rate over 16 appearances. On the flip side, we have Logan Webb for the Giants. The 1.17 WHIP, 2.64 ERA, and 10.0 K/9 are impressive, folks. Simply superb, dare I say.
Now, think about the Dodgers top batters. "Thinks of Miguel Rojas," What comes to mind? You're probably thinking of that robust 0.361 batting average, and Will Smith - the man with seemingly a chip on his shoulder, boasting a 0.338 batting average and already seven balls out of the park. Not forgetting our Shohei Ohtani, that boy has the power to drop the ball out of the park even on a questionable day.
But let's not discount the Giants here. No siree! Casey Schmitt's been swinging a mean bat with a 0.351 average, and Willy Adames is worth his weight in gold with a 0.296 average and six homers. Even when not at his best, Heliot Ramos has shown some spark, I'll tell you that.
Now put on your thinking caps, and let's track back to the past matchups. Some wins, some losses for both, but it seems like Dodgers have a slight edge when it comes to head-to-head. In terms of season track records, it's a closer call—you've got the Dodgers with a 56-38 record and Giants not far off at 51-43.
Keep in mind the recent results; they can't be ignored. The Dodgers have quite a losing streak, while the Giants have reversed their fortunes after that trouncing by Philly. Momentum is a funny thing, isn't it?
Now where will my rational (or not so rational, depends how you see it) sensibilities place the winning bets? Let's drumroll this thing.
Albert’s Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers by 2