Night one of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium pits a San Francisco Giants team treading water at 16-24 against the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who sit at 24-16 and have established themselves as one of the most dangerous lineups in the National League.
The pitching matchup is unusual on both sides, featuring a rookie making just his second MLB start against a high-profile international signing who has been the clear weak link in one of baseball's most talented rotations.
Giants vs. Dodgers betting picks and predictions
Over 9.5 Total Runs (+100)
The pitching matchup tonight is the primary driver of this pick, and it points firmly in one direction. Roki Sasaki enters Monday's start with a 5.97 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his first six outings of the 2026 season, numbers that have kept him firmly on the roster hot seat throughout the spring.
He takes the mound on eight days' rest after being pushed back from this weekend's series against Atlanta, and while he covered a season-high six innings in his most recent outing against St. Louis, he remains the clear weak link in Los Angeles's rotation, with command and consistency still persistent concerns.
Opposing him for the Giants is Trevor McDonald, a 25-year-old right-hander who impressed in his first career start but remains one of the least experienced arms in baseball. McDonald is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and 0.29 WHIP over seven innings, having allowed just two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks in his MLB debut against San Diego.
Those numbers are eye-catching, but a sample of seven innings against an unfamiliar opponent offers limited predictive value, and now he draws an entirely different level of challenge in Dodger Stadium against one of the sport's deepest offensive lineups.
Los Angeles is hitting .265 with a .344 on-base percentage and .434 slugging percentage as a team, producing 203 runs on 357 hits through 40 games.
Andy Pages has been the standout performer, batting .333 while leading the team in hits, RBIs, and total bases. Over his last five games, he has batted .474 with four home runs and eight RBI.
This is a lineup built to do damage against pitchers who leave anything over the plate, and McDonald will be tested in ways his debut could not replicate.
San Francisco, meanwhile, has struggled badly over the past 10 games. The Giants are 3-7 in that stretch with a .235 batting average and have been outscored by 23 runs. However, Sasaki has proven susceptible to offensive outbursts regardless of opponent, and the total of 9.5 reflects a market that is perhaps overvaluing McDonald's debut numbers.
Both bullpens are likely to see meaningful action given the inexperience of both starters, which only adds to the run-scoring opportunity. Take the Over.
Shohei Ohtani to Hit a Home Run (+210)
Shohei Ohtani is the most dangerous power hitter in the National League and has been operating at an elite level in 2026.
His Statcast profile this season shows an average exit velocity of 93.3 mph, a hard-hit rate of 47.5%, and a barrel rate of 17.3%, all numbers that place him among the very best contact-quality hitters in baseball.
He slugged a career-high 55 home runs a season ago and has shown no regression in his ability to drive the ball out of any ballpark.
The matchup here is favorable. McDonald pitched well in his first outing, but he’s still a rookie. This Dodgers lineup is a whole new monster, and the right-hander will eventually be forced to challenge hitters with fastballs they can punish.
Ohtani is precisely the hitter who capitalizes when that happens, and at Dodger Stadium with the crowd behind him, the conditions set up well for a long ball from the Japanese slugger.
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Giants vs. Dodgers odds
Giants | +160 |
Dodgers | -190 |
Run Line | LA Dodgers -1.5 |
Total | O/U 9.5 |
Giants vs. Dodgers player props
Player home run odds
Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) | +210 |
Rafael Devers (SF Giants) | +350 |
Max Muncy (LA Dodgers) | +375 |
Willy Adames (SF Giants) | +425 |
Bryce Eldridge (SF Giants) | +425 |
Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers) | +450 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
