Dodgers Looking to Tie Giants Atop NL West
Dodgers vs Giants is surely an interesting matchup. The Dodgers lost the first game of a four-game series against the Giants on Monday night 7-2, but the Dodgers took game two in the series after Will Smith’s three-run walk off home run to left field.
The Dodgers haven’t led the American League West in more than a month despite still being the favorite in many people’s minds to win the World Series for the second straight season.
The Giants deserve a ton of credit for not allowing the Dodgers or Padres to catch them in the National League West standings. The Giants pitching staff is among the best in MLB this season. San Francisco’s team ERA is second in the majors behind only the Dodgers, but they have given up fewer runs this season.
Kevin Guasman has been the best pitcher for the Giants this season, but he went just three innings on Monday night and gave up two earned runs. Despite the short outing, the Giants were still able to put up seven runs and they took Monday’s game.
On Wednesday, the Dodgers are set to send Julio Urias to the mound against Giants right-hander Logan Webb. Here is a preview of the pitching matchup and pick for tonight’s game.
Pitching Matchup: Julio Urias vs. Logan Webb
Julio Urias came to the Major Leagues as one of the sports most touted young arms and he has largely met the lofty goals that were set for him by the Dodgers when he made his Major League debut in 2016.
In 2021, Urias had a 12-3 record and a 3.78 ERA in his 19 starts while going an impressive 112.0 innings. Urias has been effective with his curveball this season, his go-to strikeout pitch, and it has helped him strike out 122 opponents this season.
In his last start at Colorado, Urias went 5.2 innings and gave up four earned runs and seven hits, it was one of his less successful starts this season. Prior to his outing against the Rockies, Urais went seven strong innings against the Marlins prior to the All-Star Break and only gave up one earned run.
Urias has made two starts against the Giants this season, both coming in May. The 24-year-old lefty struggled in his second start against the Giants. He gave up six earned runs and 11 hits over just five innings of work, but in his other start against the Giants, Urias was solid going six innings and allowed just runs.
For the Giants, it is going to be 24-year-old righty Logan Webb. Webb has a 4-3 record this season with a 3.54 ERA while starting in 11 of his 12 appearances this season.
In his most recent start, Webb went four innings and gave up just a single earned run against the Cardinals on July 16. It was just Webbs second start since May 29 as he missed more than a month with an injury that put him on the injured list.
Webb has been really successful with getting his opponents to chase pitches outside of the strike zone this season, in fact, he ranks in the 89th percentile of all Major League pitchers in that category. Webb has also been successful at limiting opponents from squaring him up for hard contact, which has largely contributed to his successful season.
Webb has an arsenal that includes five pitches, a sinker, changeup, slider, four-seam fastball, and a cutter that he has only used 13 times this season. Webb’s sinker and changeup are his two best pitches, and he has perfected an ability to put his changeup at the bottom corner of the strike zone this season.
Dodgers vs Giants Pick
Take the Dodgers in this one at -162. Urias has been a really good starter for the Dodger this season. I don’t expect the Giants to rough him up like they did in his second start against them this season.
It should be a low-scoring game, so avoid the run line tonight and just side with Urias going deep enough into Wednesday’s game to get the Dodgers one game closer to the Giants in the National League West.
