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Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants

By JR·2 min read
Los Angeles DodgersLAD(97-62)
San Francisco GiantsSF(65-94)
AT
7:15 PM PT

TLDR: The Dodgers roll into San Francisco after San Diego took 2 straight from them and clinched a playoff spot at Dodger Stadium. Waiting for them is a 65-94 Giants team that has a long injured list and not much else going for it.

SAT SEP 26, 7:15 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Dodgers
(97-62)
LLWWW
Giants
(65-94)
LLWLL

The 97-62 Dodgers open a series at Oracle Park against a 65-94 Giants team missing Devers, Chapman, Adames, Lee and Eldridge. Tarik Skubal faces rookie Yunior Marte, the same pairing as the Dodgers' 10-4 win 6 days ago. The questions are whether Skubal pitches better than he did that night and whether LA's short bullpen can protect a lead.

Dodgers
  • Skubal (2.85 ERA) vs a rookie they already knocked out
  • Betts 4-for-4 with 3 doubles off Marte
  • Won both games of last weekend's set with SF
  • Lost 2 straight, 3 runs scored in them
  • Bullpen thin: Henriquez, Graterol, Casparius, Cousins out
  • Skubal allowed 4 ER, 8 hits to SF last start
Giants
  • Got 8 hits and 4 runs off Skubal last time
  • Oracle Park keeps a lopsided game in reach
  • Devers, Chapman, Adames, Lee, Eldridge all out
  • Marte gave up 6 runs in 4.2 innings to LA
  • 1-4 in last 5, lost 2 straight

Tarik Skubal (11-7, 2.85) gets the Giants for the 2nd straight turn, and his first try wasn't his best. He won that 10-4 game at Dodger Stadium, but San Francisco got 8 hits and 4 earned runs off him in 5 innings, and he struck out only 3. Across from him is Yunior Marte, a 23-year-old right-hander who debuted on August 29. He took the loss in that same game, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits in 4.2 innings, and Mookie Betts went 4-for-4 with 3 doubles. Marte had a 2.45 ERA in 14.2 innings before that start. Now he gets the same lineup again, 6 days later, at 7:15 PM PT.

Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal
(11-7)·2.85 ERA
Sep 19 vs Giants
W
5.0IP
4ER
3K
2BB
86P
09/25 Lineup
Yunior Marte
Yunior Marte
(0-1)·4.66 ERA
Sep 19 @ Dodgers
L
4.2IP
6ER
2K
3BB
97P
09/25 Lineup

The Giants' lineup is missing a lot of its regulars. Rafael Devers is having season-ending abdominal surgery, and Matt Chapman is on the 60-day IL. Willy Adames (elbow) is still on the 10-day list, Jung Hoo Lee went on the IL with a groin contusion, and Bryce Eldridge is on the 7-day concussion list. That's the heart of the order, gone. It shows in the results: they scored 2, 2 and 1 in 3 of their last 5 games. The Dodgers have injuries too, but theirs are mostly in the bullpen. Edgardo Henriquez has a low-grade back strain and the club is hoping to get him back for October. Brusdar Graterol, Ben Casparius and Jake Cousins are all on the 60-day IL. Dalton Rushing (elbow) is expected back behind the plate today. The prices reflect all of this: LA is a heavy favorite.

Los Angeles has cooled off a bit. The 7-0 shutout of San Diego put them at 15-5 in September, according to ESPN. Then Manny Machado homered and drove in 3 in a 5-1 Padres win. The next game, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ethan Salas had RBI singles in a 3-run 7th, San Diego won 4-2, and the Padres clinched their 3rd straight postseason berth on the Dodgers' field. That makes 2 straight losses for LA, with 3 runs scored in them. Giving up a clinch at home isn't a disaster at 97-62, but it's not the way they wanted to leave town.

Los Angeles Dodgers
(97-62)
09/24LvsPadres2-4
09/23LvsPadres1-5
09/22WvsPadres7-0
09/20WvsGiants3-1
09/19WvsGiants10-4
San Francisco Giants
(65-94)
09/23LvsTwins2-4
09/22LvsTwins2-3
09/21WvsTwins5-2
09/20L@Dodgers1-3
09/19L@Dodgers4-10

This is a new series at Oracle Park, with Blake Snell (groin) expected to start the next game. The Dodgers took both games of last weekend's set in LA, 10-4 and 3-1. The Giants have lost 2 straight and are 1-4 in their last 5, and their one win in that stretch was 5-2 over Minnesota. It's 63 degrees and cloudy with a 15 mph wind, which is a normal September night by the bay and doesn't help hitters much.

Los Angeles Dodgers
(9)
  • Day-To-DayBlake Snell (SP) — Snell (groin) is expected to start Saturday's game against the Giants.09/22
  • 10-Day-ILNewDalton Rushing (C) — Rushing (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.09/24
  • 15-Day-ILEdgardo Henriquez (RP) — Henriquez has a "low-grade" back strain, and the team is "hopeful" the reliever will be back for the postseason.09/16
  • 60-Day-ILWill Klein (RP) — Klein (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday.09/22
  • 60-Day-ILEric Lauer (SP) — The Dodgers transferred Lauer (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.09/11
  • 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Stone (shoulder/biceps) resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, allowing three runs over two-thirds of an inning.09/10
  • 60-Day-ILJake Cousins (RP) — Cousins (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, striking out one and issuing one walk in a scoreless frame.09/03
  • 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) experienced arm fatigue while on a minor-league rehab assignment and has been shut down from throwing.09/02
  • 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol (RP) — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment.06/01
San Francisco Giants
(24)
  • OutLanden Roupp (SP) — Roupp (9-14) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings to take the loss Monday against the Cardinals.09/22
  • Day-To-DayBo Davidson (LF) — Davidson went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 win over the Twins.09/23
  • Day-To-DayOsleivis Basabe (2B) — Basabe isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Padres.09/23
  • 7-Day ILBryce Eldridge (DH) — Eldridge was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday, retroactive to Friday.09/21
  • 10-Day-ILWilly Adames (SS) — Adames (elbow) intends to take batting practice and participate in fielding work Monday.09/21
  • 10-Day-ILJung Hoo Lee (RF) — Lee was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a groin contusion.09/21
  • 10-Day-ILNate Furman (2B) — Furman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.09/19
  • 15-Day-ILReiver Sanmartin (RP) — The Giants placed Sanmartin on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Sept. 17, with a right oblique strain.09/19
  • 15-Day-ILLogan Webb (SP) — The Giants placed Webb on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right middle finger blister.09/19
  • 15-Day-ILJT Brubaker (RP) — Brubaker (ribs) resumed a throwing program over the weekend.09/07
  • 60-Day-ILNewBlade Tidwell (RP) — Tidwell has been recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery.09/24
  • 60-Day-ILRandy Rodriguez (RP) — Rodriguez (elbow) will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.09/15
  • 60-Day-ILRafael Devers (1B) — Devers (abdomen) is expected to undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday.09/13
  • 60-Day-ILCarson Whisenhunt (SP) — Whisenhunt will undergo Tommy John surgery Sept. 16.09/09
  • 60-Day-ILJesus Rodriguez (C) — The Giants transferred Rodriguez (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.09/04
  • 60-Day-ILKeaton Winn (RP) — The Giants transferred Winn (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.09/03
  • 60-Day-ILAdrian Houser (SP) — The Giants transferred Houser (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, effectively ending his season.09/01
  • 60-Day-ILMatt Gage (RP) — Gage was pulled off his rehab assignment and shut down from throwing for a week after experiencing discomfort in his left elbow.09/01
  • 60-Day-ILCasey Schmitt (LF) — The Giants transferred Schmitt (knee) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.08/30
  • 60-Day-ILJoel Peguero (RP) — Peguero has been shut down for the season due to a recurring left hamstring injury.08/21
  • 60-Day-ILDaniel Susac (C) — Susac (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday.08/19
  • 60-Day-ILHarrison Bader (CF) — Bader (foot) won't return from the 10-day injured list before the end of the season.08/19
  • 60-Day-ILMatt Chapman (3B) — The Giants transferred Chapman (abdomen) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.08/14
  • 60-Day-ILTrevor McDonald (SP) — McDonald is scheduled to undergo UCL reconstruction surgery in early August.08/13

Put the two lineups side by side and it's mostly an injury story. San Francisco is starting a rookie and filling out the order with fill-ins. Los Angeles is starting the best arm in the game, though Skubal struggled against these same hitters a week ago. Most of the uncertainty is on the Dodgers' side: whether LA pushes its regulars hard with October close, and whether the bullpen holds if Skubal has another 5-inning night.

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Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants — Skubal Takes the Ball at Oracle Against a Short-Handed Giants Lineup | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush