The MLB betting board has a slew of games on Friday afternoon, headlined by an NL West battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.
These division rivals have the two best records in the NL and are wrapping up a three-game series at Oracle Park after splitting the first two contests.
Oddsmakers are expecting a close contest with L.A. installed as a slim -130 road favorite. Here are our best free Dodgers vs. Giants picks and predictions for Friday, July 29, with the opening pitch scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET.
Dodgers vs Giants game info
• Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
• Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021
• Time: 3:45 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCS BA, SportsNet LA
Dodgers vs Giants odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Dodgers vs Giants betting preview
Starting pitchers
David Price (4-0, 3.35 ERA): The veteran left-hander has been mostly pitching out of the bullpen this season but has made six starts, where he has pitched to a 2.84 ERA through 19 innings. In his previous appearance last Friday, he logged a season-high 5 2-3 innings at home against the Rockies and surrendered three runs on a pair of homers.
Johnny Cueto (6-5, 4.09 ERA): Cueto is having a solid season, pitching to a 1.26 WHIP through 16 starts. He has struggled lately, however, posting a 5.57 ERA through 21 innings this month. Despite the Dodgers and Giants already playing against each other 15 times this season, this will be Cueto's first appearance against them.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Dodgers: Joe Kelly RP (Questionable), Mookie Betts RF (Out), Corey Seager SS (Out), Gavin Lux SS (Out).
Giants: Brandon Crawford SS (Probable), Brandon Belt 1B (Out), Tommy La Stella 2B (Out), Evan Longoria 3B (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Dodgers are 9-4 in their last 13 games against a team with a winning record. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Giants.
Moneyline pick
The Giants have the best record in the MLB at 63-38 but the defending World Series champion Dodgers are hot on their heels at 62-41 and are coming off an 8-0 beatdown against the home side last night. This has been a very competitive series this season, with the Dodgers currently holding an 8-7 advantage through 15 games, and we should be in for a battle tonight.
L.A. will send Price to the mound and while the former All-Star isn't the elite starter he was in his prime, he's still a solid option as he's allowed just four runs in his last 15 2-3 innings. San Francisco responds with a 35-year-old former All-Star of their own in Johnny Cueto.
Cueto has benefited from some excellent run support this season but his opponent batting average of .277 — and his expected ERA of 4.80 — are subpar. He's been particularly ineffective since the start of June, allowing 25 runs and 11 homers in 43 2-3 innings of work. More importantly for bettors, the Giants have gone just 2-6 in those eight starts.
When it comes to batting, these teams are neck-and-neck with San Fran fourth in the majors with an OPS of .759 while the Dodgers rank fifth at .757. That said, the Giants are currently in poor form, ranking just 27th in the majors in OPS (.716) over the last 15 days.
The Giants have been very good at home this season... against everyone except Los Angeles. With the Dodgers going 6-1 in their last seven games at Oracle Park, back them to pick up the win this afternoon.
PREDICTION: Dodgers (-130)
Over/Under pick
The Dodgers are second in the majors in scoring with 5.18 runs per game but the Giants have been struggling at the dish lately, plating just 3.45 runs per game over their last 11 contests.
Although Cueto has looked mediocre lately, the Giants have still cashed the Under in seven of his last nine starts. A big reason for that has been the terrific play of their bullpen which has an MLB-best 1.12 WHIP while ranking second in opponent batting average at .219.
Price hasn't exactly been an innings-eater for the Dodgers but their relievers have generally been effective, ranking eighth in the majors in WHIP (1.27) and sixth in OBA (.222). With the Dodgers going 4-1-1 to the Under in their last six games, back the Under for today's contest.
PREDICTION: Under 8.5 (-105)
Dodgers vs Giants betting card
- Dodgers ML (-130)
- Under 8.5 (-105)
Picks made on 7/29/2021 at 9:45 a.m. ET
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