Giants vs Dodgers Predictions, Picks, Odds — April 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to host the San Francisco Giants in MLB action tonight. This is the second contest in a three-game set at Dodger Stadium with the home side winning 8-3 last night.

The Dodgers are expected to win again with MLB odds installing them as -150 favorites with the Over/Under at 8.5 for tonight’s matchup.

Here are my best free MLB picks and predictions for the Giants vs. Dodgers on April 2. 

Giants vs Dodgers odds

Giants vs Dodgers predictions

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the World Series favorites at +350. A big reason for that is the Dodgers stacked lineup which added two-time MVP Shohei Ohtani in the offseason to a group that already included Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Max Muncy.

It’s no surprise L.A. is currently fifth in the majors in OPS (.865) and sixth in scoring with 6.71 runs per game. Today, that lineup takes on San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb who is coming off a year where he finished second in the NL Cy Young race after posting a 3.16 FIP with a 1.07 WHIP in an MLB-high 216 innings. 

Although Webb does an excellent job of limiting walks and forcing ground balls, he also allows a decent amount of contact. He had an opponent batting average of .248 last year and he has a history of struggling against Freeman and Betts.

Freeman has gone 11-for-27 at the plate with a slugging percentage of .593 against Webb while Betts has gone 12-for-30 while slugging .567. Both hitters have the Over 1.5 total bases installed around +110 today so it isn’t easy to decide which slugger has the better chance of going Over.

Betts is the hottest hitter in the majors to begin the season but Freeman has still been extremely productive. Over the larger sample size of the last few years their total bases numbers have been practically identical.

Ultimately, I’ve decided to back Freeman because he absolutely crushes changeups with a .639 slugging percentage against those offerings last season. Webb’s best pitch is his changeup and he threw it a whopping 41.6% of the time last year while relying on it even more often against left-handed hitters like Freeman. 

My best bet: Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 total bases (+110 at bet365)

Giants vs Dodgers same-game parlay

Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 total bases

Mookie Betts Over 1.5 total bases

Dodgers alt team total Under 6.5

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For this SGP I’m going to throw in the Over 1.5 total bases for Betts as well. After all he also hits extremely well against Webb and he leads the majors with 30 total bases this year — nine more than second-place Hernandez.

That said, while I like Betts and Freeman to hit well, that doesn’t necessary mean L.A. will have it’s usual offensive success here. Webb made a pair of quality starts against the Dodgers last year where he allowed five runs (three earned) and 13 hits through 13 innings.

With Webb on the mound the Dodgers team total is sitting at a modest 4.5. However, with the correlated parlay of taking the Over 1.5 total bases for Betts and Freeman, we can push their team total to 6.5 and still take the Under for a nice payout.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Giants vs Dodgers moneyline and Over/Under analysis

• The line opened with the Dodgers at -140 and despite the Giants boasting the better starting pitcher money has come in on the Dodgers shifting the ML to -150.
• The total opened at 8.5 and juiced towards the Under at -120. It has ticked down to 8.0 at some books with the Under now at +100.
• The Giants didn’t give Webb enough run support last year but added Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, and star Korean OF Jung-hoo Lee in the offseason to boost their lineup.
• The Dodgers are 5-2 to begin the year and after last night’s win against the Giants are 5-1 in the last six meetings between these NL West rivals. 

Trend to know

Despite Logan Webb’s strong season in 2023 the Giants are just 2-7 in his last nine starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Dodgers

Giants vs Dodgers game info

Starting pitchers

Logan Webb (0-0, 3.00 ERA): Webb has been San Francisco’s most reliable starter over the last three years. compiling a 37-25 record with a 3.07 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 556 2/3 innings during that span. He made his season debut against San Diego last Thursday and limited the Padres to five hits and two runs through six innings.

Dodgers Bullpen Game: L.A. manager Dave Roberts has said this will be a bullpen game with LHP Ryan Yarbrough and RHP Michael Grove available for “some length.” Grove struggled as an opener last year and has allowed seven runs in three innings this season. Yarbrough had a 4.89 ERA in 38 2/3 inning last year and has given up one run in 4 2/3 innings this season.

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