FREE today on MLB.TV: Dodgers vs. Giants
The Dodgers-Giants rivalry is back for the first time in 2021, and on Sunday you can tune in for the finale.
This weekend, L.A. superstar Mookie Betts leads the reigning World Series champions into their first head-to-head series of the season against their longtime National League West foes. But a resurgent Buster Posey has the Giants neck and neck with the Dodgers in the NL West race.
The series finale is Sunday's MLB.TV Free Game of the Day. (Blackout restrictions apply, although live audio still will be available through MLB.TV in local markets.) The game is also available on MLB Network.
Betts (five home runs, five stolen bases, an MLB-leading 15 doubles) and the Dodgers face Posey (.355 batting average, nine home runs) and the Giants at 4:05 p.m. ET at Oracle Park in San Francisco.
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Here's a breakdown of the matchup.
How they're doing
Dodgers: 28-18 (T-2nd in NL West)
Giants: 28-18 (T-2nd in NL West)
The Dodgers are on a roll, having won six in a row, including the first two games of the series against the Giants. That leaves the two teams even in the NL West standings entering Sunday's finale, though both trail the Padres by a game. The Giants have been a surprise contender in the division, surging early behind veterans like Posey, Brandon Crawford, Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria. But the Dodgers, even missing stars like Cody Bellinger (left calf contusion) and Corey Seager (right hand fracture), are still a force.
The matchup on the mound
Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (4-1, 2.03 ERA, 48 strikeouts in 9 starts)
Dodgers: Julio Urías (6-1, 3.04 ERA, 60 strikeouts in 9 starts)
DeSclafani has been excellent in his first season in San Francisco, with five quality starts in nine outings and only one run allowed in 12 innings over his last two starts. But Urías has shut down the Giants in his career, with a 2.12 ERA in 15 appearances (nine starts) against them.
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The player to watch
Posey. The Giants have been sparked by the return of their leader, who elected not to play in 2020. Posey would be leading the MLB batting race this season with his .355 average entering Sunday if he had enough plate appearances to qualify for the title.
Don't forget him
Crawford. The Giants' 34-year-old shortstop has been crushing the ball this season, with 11 home runs already, tied for fifth in the NL. That's as many homers as Crawford hit in the entire 2019 season in 147 games.
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Picture this
Posey has simplified his batting stance -- instead of the classic open-stanced, deep-kneed, bat-draped-flat-over-the-shoulder Posey of years past, he's using a more straight-up, vertical-bat stance that lets him do less to get into his swing. It's working.
Number of note
The Dodgers have won each of their last four season series against the Giants, going 39-28 against their rivals from 2017-20 (including winning six of 10 games last year). The Dodgers went 18-13 on the road in San Francisco during that span.