Dodgers vs Giants Picks and Predictions: Heaney, Dodgers Go For Sweep

Sunday Night Baseball heads to the Bay Area where the San Francisco Giants host the Los Angeles Dodgers in a spotlighted rivalry game. 

Dave Roberts’ squad become the first to reach 100 wins on the season with a 7-2 victory on Saturday. The Dodgers have won each of the first two games of the series. Will they complete the clean sweep?

Check out our MLB picks and predictions for Dodgers vs. Giants below to find out.

Dodgers vs Giants best odds

Dodgers vs Giants picks and predictions

The total opened at 8 but was quickly bet down to 7.5. I believe that early money was in the right place, as I’m forecasting a low-scoring Sunday Night Baseball game. 

In my write-up for Friday’s Game 1, I pointed out that both teams were trending toward the Under in that matchup. That ended up being the case, as the Dodgers won 5-0 and the Under cashed with ease. A 7-2 final score to Game 2 yesterday crept Over the total by one run as the Dodgers took advantage of a bad Giants bullpen in a game in which they used an opener. 

The difference in Sunday’s game is that San Francisco will be sending an actual starter to the mound, and he’s a good one. Alex Cobb’s peripheral numbers have been superb all season long, as his 3.09 xERA and 2.88 FIP paint the picture that he is a very dependable arm.

Unfortunately, he’s been the victim of some very poor batted ball luck. His .328 BABIP is the highest mark of his career across a full season. Considering his 2.6% barrel rate is the third-lowest in the league among pitchers with at least 300 batted ball events, he’s been even more unlucky than it first appears. He does a fantastic job of limiting hard contact, and yet batted balls are still falling for hits at an uncommonly high rate.

Andrew Heaney gets the nod for the Dodgers. He has a 2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP on the season, so he’s been effective. The Giants have been one of the worst lineups in the majors since the calendar flipped to September, ranking 26th in wOBA and 25th in wRC+.

I considered a play on Heaney to go Over his 6.5 strikeout prop considering the Giants have a massive 29.2% strikeout rate this month and likely will end up with a play on the Over by game time.

The Under is 4-1 in the Dodgers’ last five games overall. The Giants have been trending even harder in that direction, going 9-1 to the Under in their last 10 overall, including 4-1 in their last five home games. 

My best bet: Under 7.5 (-115 at DraftKings)

Dodgers vs Giants betting preview

Jump to:
•Side analysis •Over/Under analysis •Starting pitchers •Injuries •Weather •Trend to know

Moneyline analysis

The Dodgers have been the best team in the league this season, posting an absurd +328 run differential while becoming the first team to win 100 games this season. It’s truly been one great display of domination in 2022. 

They’ve also had the Giants' number lately, going 17-5 across the last 22 matchups. Traveling to Oracle Park hasn’t been a hindrance, as they’ve won each of their last six trips to San Francisco.

The Dodgers have a massive advantage at the plate, but I’d make an argument that the Giants are actually sending the better pitcher to the mound on Sunday. Cobb’s peripherals are superb and he’s managed to stay effective this season despite some truly bizarre and unfortunate batted ball luck. 

All things considered, the Dodgers are the rightful favorite on Sunday Night Baseball. They are a -180 favorite to complete the sweep over at bet365, which seems like a fair price.

With a 55-16 record across their last 71 games overall, there’s no reason to expect that dominance to discontinue any time soon. 

Over/Under analysis

The Under has gone 5-2-2 in the last nine meetings between these two teams in San Francisco.

I’ve outlined my case for the Under in the best bet section above, so allow me to use this opportunity to expand on Heaney’s strikeout prop. The left-hander has been electric this season, posting an absurd 34.6% strikeout rate. He’s cashed the Over on his strikeout prop in five straight starts, accumulating a whopping 42 punchouts in that span.

I wouldn’t expect that to slow down against a Giants lineup that can’t figure out how to stop striking out. San Francisco’s 29.2% strikeout rate in the month of September is second only to the Oakland Athletics at 29.4% — what is going on in the Bay Area? It seems as though there is an allergy to making contact up there. 

All things considered, Heaney’s Over 6.5 strikeout prop can be had for -105 and is a play that I am personally high on for this matchup.

As for the other side, Cobb hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last three starts and has a superb 2.34 ERA at Oracle Park this season.

Dodgers vs Giants game info

• Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
• Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022
• First pitch: 7:08 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Starting pitchers

Andrew Heaney (3-2, 2.84 ERA): Heaney has been very effective when healthy and on the mound this season, posting a  2.84 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He’s allowed more than two earned runs only once in his 12 starts this season, with one of those being a blowup at home against the Giants on September 5. He allowed six earned runs across 5 1-3 innings in that contest — the first time all year he allowed more than three earned.

Alex Cobb (6-6, 3.48 ERA): Cobb has quietly been very effective for the Giants this year. His 6-6 record, 3.48 ERA, and 1.27 WHIP don’t jump off the page — but his advanced statistics sure do. His 3.09 xERA and 2.88 FIP are fantastic and are positive indicators moving forward. He’s been snake bitten at times by a career-worst .328 BABIP, which is unlucky.

Key injuries

Find our latest MLB injury reports.

Weather

Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.

Betting trend to know

The Giants are 9-1 to the Under in their last 10 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Giants

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