Dodgers vs. Giants Game 5: Pitchers, Odds, Prediction For 2021 NLDS Matchup

It’s fitting that the only division series requiring a win-or-go-home fifth game comes in the matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. The NL West rivals are MLB’s two best teams, but one will see their World Series hopes end before the weekend.

The Giants host the Dodgers on Thursday night in Game 5 of the NLDS. Logan Webb gets the start for San Francisco. Los Angeles will send Julio Urias to the mound.

The Game 5 betting odds reflect just how closely matched the teams have been all season long. At home, the Giants are slight -112 favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. L.A. is given -104 odds to clinch a trip to the NLCS.

With the series tied 2-2, the Giants have a 12-11 edge over the Dodgers in head-to-head meetings, including both the regular season and playoffs. San Francisco has 109 wins in 2021 compared to Los Angeles’ 108 victories.

Over the course of 162 games, the Dodgers led the National League in ERA and runs scored. The Giants finished second in both categories.

Los Angeles hasn’t surrendered more than four runs in any game during the NLDS. The Dodgers have limited the Giants to five total runs over the last three contests.

The Dodgers have scored at least seven runs in both of their NLDS wins. Los Angeles was shut out in both of their losses.

Which lineup will show up for the Dodgers in Thursday’s elimination game? The over/under for Game 5 is only seven runs.

Webb outdueled Walker Buehler in Game 1, tossing 7.2 scoreless innings in San Francisco’s 4-0 victory. The Giants won all three of Webb’s three regular-season starts against the Dodgers. The right-hander has held L.A. to no more than two runs in every start, compiling a 1.52 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.

Collectively, the Dodgers’ roster is hitting .195/.266/.303 with just one home run in 80 career at-bats against Webb.

Urias helped Los Angeles even up the series in Game 2 when he surrendered one run in five innings to earn the win in the Dodgers’ 9-2 victory. The left-hander has made four starts against the Giants since the All-Star Game, allowing exactly one run in each outing.

San Francisco did score six runs off Urias in five innings on May 29. Six days earlier, Urias beat the Giants with a six-inning, two-run performance.

If Game 5 is decided by the bullpens, the Dodgers have the edge. Los Angeles relievers have a 1.59 ERA in the series. San Francisco’s bullpen has a 5.17 ERA in 15.2 innings.

With their season on the line, Max Scherzer could potentially be available out of Los Angeles’ bullpen on two days’ rest. The three-time Cy Young winner threw 110 pitches in Monday’s 1-0 loss.

Scherzer has been terrific since the Dodgers acquired him at the trade deadline. Still, it wasn’t enough for Los Angeles to catch San Francisco in the division.

The Giants have been just a little bit better than the Dodgers throughout the year. That could very well continue when San Francisco plays at home in an elimination game.

Prediction: San Francisco over Los Angeles, 3-2