Series preview: SF Giants vs. Dodgers - 3 burning questions, picks, and how to watch
The 5-5 Dodgers visit San Francisco for the first of four series matchups in 2023. The Giants have put up good performances so far this year, but have lacked the consistency needed to keep themselves atop an NL West that looks to be stacked this year. They'll have to put things together to fend off a Dodgers team that still employs Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Clayton Kershaw. As the series gets underway, let's tackle 3 burning questions the Giants will need to answer to find success against their arch-rivals.
1. Can the Giants find a way to hit lefties?
I was originally going to write about strikeouts and hits. The Giants, you see, lead the MLB in strikeouts, and it's not particularly close. They have 102 trips back to the dugout in 9 games, and the other two teams in the top three are at 95 with 10 games played. So it's not just your imagination - the Giants are whiffing at a truly impressive rate. But the thing is, they're not bad everywhere else. They're middle of the pack in hits (T-14), top-10 in walks, top-5 in OPS, and top-3 in home runs. They can hit, when they're not swinging and missing. The problem is, they can hit righties. San Francisco is second in the MLB in OPS against right-handers, just behind a Tampa Bay squad that doesn't seem to lose. Against lefties, though? They're batting a dismal .153 with 4 walks against 26 strikeouts. That bodes poorly for a team that's going to face two of the league's best southpaws in Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw. The Giants need to fix their lefty woes, and fast, because right now they're collectively batting worse than Johnnie LeMaster.
2. How long will the "starter piggybacking" continue?
The Giants entered 2023 with their starting pitching depth being rated as their greatest strength. Three series into the season, the results have been...mixed. It's entirely possible that the results are circumstantial, but early on, throwing in presumed starters as high-workload long relievers hasn't really been a tremendous asset to the team. Sean Manaea gave up 3 runs in 2.0 IP during his relief outing against Chicago, Sean Hjelle has shown progress but not results, and Ross Stripling is having a nightmare start to the season in general. And while it's important to ramp up pitchers at the beginning of the season, especially when there are more starters than starting slots, bringing out Stripling for the 8th inning of a 3-run game with a rested bullpen ended up costing San Francisco a much-needed win. At some point, the Giants will need to figure out who's earned starting spots and where everyone else fits in, or this strangely inflexible arrangement will continue to cost them.
3. Will Joey Bart return and spark a run?
Admittedly, this one is a bit more of a long-term consideration. Bart is on the Sacramento roster right now, working his way back from a mild injury sustained at the start of the year. If he even appears in this series, it's not likely to be more than a last-game cameo. But Bart may be the most important position player on the Giants in 2023. With key backup Roberto Peréz on the 60-day IL, the defensively raw Blake Sabol is keeping the position afloat. While Sabol has shown glimpses of being an impressive overall contributor, he can't - and shouldn't - be expected to shoulder the full load of the catching position for San Francisco right now. That's why it's so important that Bart comes back healthy and dangerous. If he can prove that he turned the tough love he received in Spring Training into consistent and reliable production, catcher will go from a ticking time bomb to a veritable strength.
Series Prediction
I'm going to go full pessimist and predict that the Giants are getting swept at home in front of a bunch of Dodgers fans, and it's only mostly a blatant attempt at a reverse-jinx. Logan Webb looks like a really good pitcher who's taking a step back while he incorporates a dangerous new weapon into his arsenal, Alex Wood has pitched all of three innings this year, and the previously mentioned struggles against lefties don't leave me confident at all the "good" Giants will show up against Kershaw and Urías. If the Giants look good in game 1 and there's momentum rolling into the second game, maybe I eat my words. If the Giants get four-hit against Urías and take forever to get going on Tuesday... well, it might be a long series.
Series Details:
Who: SF Giants vs. LA Dodgers
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
When: Mon. 4/10 - Wed. 4/12 (all games 6:45 PM PT)
Projected starters: Logan Webb vs. Julio Urías* (4/10), Alex Wood vs. Dustin May (4/11), Alex Cobb vs. Clayton Kershaw* (4/12)
*Indicates LHP
How to watch:
- Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
- Dodgers broadcast: SportsNet LA, Dodgers Radio AM 570/1020
- National broadcasts: MLB Network (4/11)
