The Los Angeles Dodgers (54-47) and San Francisco Giants (55-44) will continue a three-game National League West series on Saturday afternoon at AT&T Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 4:05 ET
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants
Los Angeles snapped its three-game losing streak by capturing a 5-3 extra-inning road victory over San Francisco on Friday night, as the club’s recent acquisition made a major splash in the series opener. “We’re just having fun,” commented Dodgers third baseman Hanley Ramirez, who was acquired earlier in the week from the Miami Marlins. It was an important victory, considering the team was swept in its last three-game set at this ballpark, but was also playing without the services of outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Los Angeles is 6-14 as a road underdog of +100 to +125 this season.
Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley (5-9, 4.15 ERA) snapped a personal five-game losing streak in picking up a 5-3 road win over the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing one run and seven hits over six frames. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 4.01 ERA in 10 road outings, issuing 17 walks and striking out 51 batters in 60.2 innings. In 26 career games (21 starts) versus the Giants, Billingsley has compiled a 7-6 record and 3.33 ERA, including a 3-0 setback on June 27 in the Bay Area.
San Francisco has still won nine of 13 since the All-Star break, with the pitching staff posting the second-lowest ERA in the majors over that span. “It’s tough to lose those extra-inning games at home,” stated Giants manager Bruce Bochy. The Giants came into the series with the second-best winning percentage at home (.646) in the majors, while fashioning the lowest home ERA in all of baseball as well. San Francisco is 7-4 at home with a money line of -100 to -125, with the “under” going 7-4 in those contests.
Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito (8-6, 3.75 ERA) will be making his first home start since June 30, posting a 4-3 mark and 3.09 ERA in nine outings at AT&T Park. The left-hander is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three starts this month, issuing five walks and striking out 14 batters in 19 innings. In two appearances against the Dodgers this year, Zito has compiled a 1-1 record and 2.08 ERA, failing to allow a home run in 13 frames.
Sports bettors will likely back the Giants due to their 18-4 mark as a home favorite of -110 to -150, while the Dodgers are 1-7 in Billingsley’s last eight road starts with a total of 7.0 to 8.5.
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