San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview (July 19): Gausman, Giants Good Value as Road Underdog in Los Angeles

The San Francisco Giants start yet another week at the top of the NL West. I keep thinking they are going to fade but it is hasn’t happened yet. Is this the series that starts a slide? MLB betting odds still don’t think highly of the Giants’ chances to fend off the Dodgers in the NL West. The Dodgers are -250 favorites at BetOnline Sportsbook, while the Giants come in at +330.

While the Giants still lead the division, they did he Giants did lose their last two games against the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend. They now visit Los Angeles with their division lead under threat. These teams have four games against each other this week and a three-game set next week.

The Dodgers fell on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies, but they took two of three in Denver to start the second half. With so many injuries, they are really going to have to rely on depth to overtake San Francisco.

The Dodgers now have two starters, including the one we will see tonight, that were not in the starting rotation when the season began. All is not right for the reigning champions, but they continue to stay in the mix, and the latest MLB betting odds still back the Dodgers to win the NL West.

San Francisco Giants (58-34) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (58-36), Sportsnet LA, 10:10 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• San Francisco Giants: Kevin Gausman (9-3, 1.73 ERA)
• Los Angeles Dodgers: Tony Gonsolin (1-0, 2.13 ERA)

Giants vs. Dodgers MLB Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Giants +116, Dodgers -140
• Total: OVER 8 (-110), Under 8 (-110)
• Run line: Giants +1.5 (-183), Dodgers -1.5 (+152)

Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Monday, July 19 at 11:22 am ET. For MLB betting odds for today’s other matchups, check out our MLB odds.

Giants vs. Dodgers MLB Betting Consensus

• Moneyline: Giants 50%, Dodgers 50%
• Total: Over 50%, Under 50%
• Run Line: Giants 100%, Dodgers 0%

San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

Giants Still Going Strong Atop the NL West

The Giants have a small lead in the NL West. Per the intro, I am waiting for a big fade but with every day I am wondering if it just isn’t coming. They can’t be this good, but at the same time teams have to beat them, and so many are struggling with injuries and underperformance this season. With every week that they bank more wins making the playoffs seems inevitable.

As much as the lineup looks like it should drop off in production, the rotation looks legit. The Giants are second in team ERA and 6th in quality starts. With Jacob deGrom’s status going forward a question mark, Kevin Gausman could be a smart MLB betting pick to win the NL Cy Young award, and Anthony DeScalafani is proving to be another late bloomer. Is that enough to win in the playoffs? Maybe.

Will the Dodgers Take Control in the NL?

The fact that the Dodgers are missing Cy Young winners from their rotation and are not falling apart is admirable. If they are going to win the division and succeed in the playoffs, they might have to lean on guys like David Price more than expected. Their pitching depth is impressive.

But on offense, I am starting to worry about them. It is nice to have some balance but are guys like Justin Turner and Max Muncy good enough to be the leaders of a team that is the MLB betting favorite to win the World Series? When will Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger play up to their talent? And what can they expect from shortstop Corey Seager when he returns? At the very least, it does not look like the Dodgers are running away from anything.

Kevin Gausman Home vs. Away

• Home: 4-1, 2.25 ERA, 48 IP, 58 Ks, 10 BBs
• Away: 5-2, 1.35 ERA, 66.2 IP, 75 Ks, 20 BBs

Tony Gonsolin Home vs. Away

• Home: 0-0, 2.31 ERA, 11.2 IP, 18 Ks, 6 BBs
• Away: 1-0, 1.98 ERA, 13.2 IP, 13 Ks, 9 BBs

Gausman has become one of the league’s elite pitchers, and those road splits say you can play him anywhere.

Gonsolin has always pitched well for the Dodgers when called upon. His sample size may be small but if he pitched for any other team he probably would have already been in his third season as a member of the starting rotation.

San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers July 19 Best Bet

San Francisco Giants ML

With Gausman on the mound, the Giants have only been underdogs four times this season, twice against L.A (1-1) and twice against San Diego (2-0). As good as Gonsolin is I do not want to miss this opportunity to get Gausman at this value price. The form of both teams is about the same. San Francisco can certainly steal the opener tonight.

July 19 MLB Betting Matchups – National League

MLB Betting Matchup: Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals, MASN, 7:05 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• Miami Marlins: Ross Detwiler (1-0, 4.19 ERA)
• Washington Nationals: Jon Lester (2-4, 5.54 ERA)

Miami Marlins vs. Washington Nationals July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

MLB Betting Matchup: New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds, Bally Sports Ohio, 7:10 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• New York Mets: Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 4.97 ERA)
• Cincinnati Reds: Vladimir Gutierrez (4-3, 4.29 ERA)

New York Mets vs Cincinnati Reds July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

MLB Betting Matchup: San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves, Bally Sports South, 7:20 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• San Diego Padres: Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.09 ERA)
• Atlanta Braves: Kyle Muller (1-2, 3.45 ERA)

San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

MLB Betting Matchup: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals, ESPN, 8:15 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• Chicago Cubs: Alec Mills (4-2, 4.38 ERA)
• St. Louis Cardinals: Jake Woodford (1-1, 4.62 ERA)

Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More

MLB Betting Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, MLB Network, 9:40 PM ET

Probable Pitchers

• Pittsburgh Pirates: Chase De Jong (1-3, 5.59 ERA)
• Arizona Diamondbacks: Caleb Smith (2-6, 4.54 ERA)

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Arizona Diamondbacks July 19 Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More