San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Free MLB Pick, 7–23–2020

Free MLB Pick by Nathan Powers of PrecisionPicks.com

San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Money Line Odds: Giants +300, Dodgers -300
Run Line Odds: Giants +1.5, Dodgers -1.5
Total Odds: O/U 8
Game Time: Thursday, July 23, 2020, 10:08 PM EST

Game two of an MLB Opening Day doubleheader features an NL West matchup as the San Francisco Giants take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers were able to lock up OF Mookie Betts to a 13 year deal on Wednesday which will keep him in Dodger blue until 2033. Betts is considered one of the top players in baseball and an elite outfielder that hits for power and speed. Betts will start in RF for the Dodgers on Thursday.

Starting Pitchers

Giants: Johnny Cueto RHP (2019: 1–2, 5.06 ERA)
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw LHP (2019: 16–5, 3.03 ERA)

Johnny Cueto is a big question mark entering Thursday night’s opener after pitching just 4 games in 2019 following Tommy John surgery. Cueto will lead a Giants team that won 77 games last season but they will be without Buster Posey in 2020, Gabe Kapler’s inaugural season as manager.

The Giants finished 27th last year in batting average and 28th in runs scored. San Francisco has an aging roster that doesn’t hit for power so runs may come at a premium this year. A bright spot for the Giants is their relief pitching had the fourth-best ERA and sixth-best WHIP in baseball last year, but it will be tough to repeat the success with the loss of Will Smith.

Los Angeles is the prohibitive favorite to win the National League at +375 odds tied with the Yankees. The Dodgers may have the best offense from top to bottom in all of baseball, while the addition of Alex Wood to pair with Clayton Kershaw, Ross Stripling and Julio Urias give the Dodgers one of the top starting pitching staffs. Clayton Kershaw gets the ball for the Dodgers, and he was 16–5 with a 3.03 ERA and 189 strikeouts last season. Kershaw is 23–12 with a 1.74 ERA and 350 strikeouts in his career against the Giants.

The money line is a little too rich for my liking which is why I am taking a swing at the Dodgers -1.5 run line. I’m not certain what I will get with Johnny Cueto but I do know that Dodgers will be ready to hit. Kershaw is a more stable performer and the Giants won’t be able to match the Dodgers with enough offense to stay in the game.

Giants vs. Dodgers Run Line Pick — Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5