Giants' Gabe Kapler: 'No Reason to Be Angry' Over Controversial Ending vs. Dodgers
Oct 15, 2021
San Francisco Giants' Wilmer Flores, right, is called out swinging in front of Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith for the final out of the ninth inning of Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe
Kapler said he won't dwell on the controversial check-swing call that
went against first baseman Wilmer Flores for the final out of the
team's season in a 2-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday
night.
"That's going to be the thing that
is talked about quite a bit, and I understand why," Kapler told
reporters after Game 5 of the National League Division Series. "I
just don't know how much sense it makes to, for us, on our side, to
pick that apart. I don't know how much, how helpful it's going to
be."
He added: "There's no reason to be
angry; it's just a disappointing way to end it. But there are other
reasons we lost that game."
Slow-motion replays appeared to show
Flores was able to check his swing and the Max Scherzer pitch should
have been called a ball.
Gabe Morales, the first base umpire who
made the game-ending call, spoke with a pool reporter about the
critical call.
"Check-swings are one of the
hardest calls we have. I don't have the benefit of multiple camera
angles when I'm watching it live,â he said. âWhen it happened
live I thought he went, so that's why I called it a swing."
Morales confirmed he watched a replay
following the game, but neither he nor crew chief Ted Barrett
provided a definitive statement about whether the wrong call was
made.
Check-swing calls are not reviewable
under MLB rules.
Kapler is right to point out that the singular call didn't cause the loss. The Giants generated
just six hits off the six pitchers who took the mound for the Dodgers,
and San Francisco couldn't capitalize when it did have an offensive
opportunity, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
As well, four Giants players who
played an important role during the regular season posted an OPS
under .500 in the NLDS: Darin Ruf (.455), Evan Longoria (.412),
LaMonte Wade Jr. (.282) and Flores (.237).
Despite the missed opportunities
throughout the series, though, losing on a check-swing call is a sour
way to end a memorable season for the NL West club.
San Francisco entered the year with
minimal outside expectationsâZiPS projected the team for just 75
winsâbut it emerged to post the best record in MLB at
107-55.
The fact that the Giants had to face the
106-win Dodgers in the Division Series based on the league's playoff
format is another factor that may get looked at during the offseason.
It was a successful year for the
club, but it may take a while for the frustration
from its playoff elimination to wear off, especially given the way
Game 5 ended.
Cody Bellinger Clutch RBI Gives Dodgers NLDS Win vs. Giants; Will Face Braves in NLCS
Oct 15, 2021
Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger (35) reacts after hitting an RBI-single against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of Game 5 of a baseball National League Division Series Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Cody Bellinger's ninth-inning RBI single propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the host San Francisco Giants in the fifth and final game of the National League Division Series on Thursday from Oracle Park.
On the mound, Giants starter Logan Webb dominated with seven innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts.
For L.A., Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' gamble to go with an opener worked as Corey Knebel and Brusdar Graterol each pitched one shutout inning before giving way to starter Julio Urias, who did enough (4.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 K) to keep L.A. around.
The game came down to the ninth inning with both teams tied at one. Giants reliever Camilo Doval allowed two runners on base due to a Justin Turner hit-by-pitch and a Will Smith single. That brought up Bellinger, whose single proved to be the difference.
L.A. then had runners on the corners, but a Chris Taylor popout bunt and a Matt Beaty groundout ended the threat.
San Francisco then had to get the job done against starting pitcher Max Scherzer, who was looking for his first-ever save in a newfound closer role.
Kris Bryant got on with one out after Turner couldn't handle a groundball at third, bringing up "Late Night" LaMonte Wade, who hit .565 in the ninth inning during the regular season, per Baseball-Reference.
However, Scherzer caught Wade looking for out No. 2. That brought out Wilmer Flores for a chance to be the hero.
Scherzer got ahead 0-2. His third pitch appeared to end in a check-swing that did not cross the plate, but first-base umpire Gabe Morales called him out:
The defending World Series champion Dodgers will now make their fifth NL Championship Series appearance in six years. It'll be a 2020 NLCS rematch with the Atlanta Braves, who fell to L.A. in seven hard-fought games last year.
The Giants' season is over after a phenomenal year that included a franchise-record 107 regular-season wins.
Notable Performances
Dodgers RF Mookie Betts: 4-for-4, R
Dodgers CF Cody Bellinger: 1-for-4, GW RBI
GIants SP Logan Webb: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Giants LF Darin Ruf: 1-for-4, HR
Betts Sets the Table, Bellinger Finishes the Job
Betts was the only Dodger batter consistently able to solve Webb's sorcery on Thursday. All three of his singles against the Giants ace were line drives to left field.
The first two led to nothing as the Dodgers were unable to get Betts across home plate. The third one did after Betts stole second base and Seager drove him in with a double to give L.A. a 1-0 edge in the sixth:
Betts even managed a fourth hit thanks to an eighth-inning single off Trevor Rogers, although he was stranded on base once again. Still, he made some history along the way:
Mookie Betts is 4-for-4. First Dodger with a four-hit game this postseason, 13th Dodger ever with four hits in a playoff game (five have come in the last two postseasons).
Betts entered Game 5 hitting 9-of-20 (.450) in elimination games since joining the Dodgers before the 2020 season, per ESPN Stats & Info. That has now ballooned to 13-of-24 (.542), showcasing his remarkably clutch nature when the pressure is on.
Despite Betts' best effort, the Dodgers only had one run through eight innings.
Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP who was one of the game's best players before inexplicably hitting just .165 this season, eventually came to the dish with runners on first and second.
The postseason has been a far different story than the regular season, as Bellinger has showcased his immense ceiling and true talents. He entered Thursday hitting .308 (.400 OBP) in the playoffs alongside three runs and a pair of RBI.
Like every other Dodger not named Betts or Seager, Bellinger entered the ninth inning hitless on the night though.
He didn't end in that way after slicing a single through the shift to score Justin Turner and give his team a 2-1 lead:
It was a great piece of hitting for Bellinger, whose return to his older form makes the Dodgers an even greater favorite entering the championship series round.
Max Scherzer then shut the door in the ninth, and now L.A.'s quest for back-to-back World Series continues.
Logan Webb: Superstar
This was undoubtedly a devastating loss for the Giants, who ended their season on a bad call and a brutal loss to an arch rival.
However, Webb's phenomenal performance can't be forgotten.
Webb entered his third MLB season with a 5.36 ERA, 1.52 WHIP in 21 games (19 starts) over the 2019 and 2020 campaigns.
It would have been difficult for pretty much everyone to envision Webb developing into a bona fide staff ace, let alone one capable of shutting down the dominant Dodgers defense twice in the playoffs.
And yet that's what happened.
The 2021 season was a completely different story for the 24-year-old Webb, who went 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 158 strikeouts in 148.1 innings.
He was given the ball to start and end this series and answered the bell each time.
On Thursday, Dodger batters not named Betts went 1-for-21 with one walk and seven strikeouts versus Webb. Seventeen of Webb's outs were courtesy of strikeouts, groundouts or infield lineouts.
No Dodgers outside Betts got a hit until the sixth inning. Webb also faced the nine-batter minimum through three innings to get his team going.
The most impressive part of Webb's night aside from his ability to ward off the pressure of a massive game and dominate with ease was his mastery of his entire arsenal. He fooled Dodger batters with his variety of pitches to limit the damage through seven frames.
He got Steven Souza Jr. swinging on a slider outside the zone.
He notably caught Gavin Lux looking twice, one after painting the black on the upper-right hand corner and the zone and the other thanks to a filthy sinker:
The fastball was working, too, as Webb showcased his excellent movement and location. This pitch up and in led to Taylor's swing-and-miss to end the fifth:
Webb punched out 10 Dodger batters in 7.2 shoutout frames in Game 1 en route to a 4-0 victory. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post put his series performance in proper perspective:
Logan Webb has thrown 14 2/3 innings against the defending World Series champs and allowed one run. ONE.
New York Mets starting pitcher Marcus Stroman provided lofty public praise for Webb, who doesn't need to throw gas to be dominant:
Logan Webb. Over the next five years, I predict him to be a top 5/top 10 pitcher in the game. His arsenal of pitches will be able to get outs forever. Movement and pitchability are more important than velocityâŠespecially over the course of an entire career. Bet heavy on Webb!
This game didn't end in victory for Webb and the Giants, but San Francisco has a true ace who can lead them back to October glory throughout the upcoming decade.
What's Next?
The Braves will host the Dodgers for Game 1 of the best-of-seven NL Championship Series on Saturday at 8:07 p.m. ET.
The Houston Astros will welcome the Boston Red Sox into town to begin the American League Championship Series on Friday at 8:07 p.m. ET.
The winners will face off in the World Series beginning Tuesday, October 26.
Mookie Betts, Dodgers Rout Giants to Force 2021 NLDS Game 5
Oct 13, 2021
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates as he runs the bases on a two-run home run during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series, Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
The Los Angeles Dodgers pushed their National League Division Series with the San Francisco Giants to the limit after beating their archrivals7-2on Tuesday.
Right fielder Mookie Betts delivered the big blast with a two-run home run to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Second baseman Trea Turner's RBI double and Chris Taylor's sacrifice fly put the Dodgers up 2-0 before then. Thanks to those early efforts, Giants starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafini was pulled after 1.2 innings and 28 pitches.
As for the Dodgers, right-handed starter Walker Buehler and the Dodger bullpen were largely excellent.
Pitching on three days rest, Buehler dazzled with 4.1 innings of shutout ball, striking out four.
He was pulled after getting into a fifth-inning jam that saw the Giants put runners on first and second with one out, but relief pitcher Joe Kelly limited the damage to one run before wiggling out of the potential rally.
Betts later added a fifth-inning sacrifice fly. The Giants got one back in the eighth after a Kris Bryant RBI groundout, but Dodgers catcher Will Smith delivered the final blow with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the frame.
L.A. relievers ultimately combined for 4.2 innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and punching out two.
The two powerhouses had split a pair of games in San Francisco before the Giants edged the Dodgers 1-0 in L.A. on Monday to take a 2-1 series lead.
That set up a must-win game for the Dodgers at home, and they got the job done.
Notable Performances
Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 4 K
Dodgers RF Mookie Betts: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
Dodgers CF Gavin Lux: 2-for-2, 2 BB
Dodgers C Will Smith: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
Giants RHP Anthony DeSclafini: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 K
Giants RF/LF Kris Bryant: 2-for-3, RBI
Dodgers Offense Springs Back to Life
The Dodgers have sported a Jekyll-and-Hyde offense during the NLDS.
San Francisco shut out L.A. in Game 1 and 3. The Dodgers had just five hits in each game, only two of which were for extra bases. They also struck out 17 times.
In between, L.A.'s offense popped off in a 9-2 victory that saw the Dodgers get 11 hits, which included four doubles and a Smith home run.
On Tuesday, the Dodgers offense showed signs of life again.
It all started with Turner, who smacked a double into the right-center gap to score Corey Seager:
Turner's been sensational for L.A. ever since the Washington Nationals dealt him to the West Coast amid their fire sale. All he did in the regular season was hit .338 (.950 slugging percentage) with 10 home runs, 28 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 52 games.
The playoffs have been quieter for Turner (3-for-7 from Games 1-3), but he set the tone Tuesday.
L.A. played small ball in the second with Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux singles preceding Taylor's sacrifice fly, but it was all about the long ball in the fourth.
Once again, a Dodger batter launched a pitch on the outside part of the plate the other way for a timely hit. This time, it was Betts scoring Buehler, who got on after an error by pitcher Jarlin Garcia, for the 4-0 edge.
It's been a down year for Betts, although an off-year for him is a great season for most ballplayers. He still hit .264 (.854 OPS) with 23 home runs and 58 RBI in an injury-shortened campaign that saw him miss 40 contests.
But Betts delivered what has been the biggest hit of this series for the Dodgers so far.
Betts added a fifth-inning sacrifice fly to score Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP who struggled mightily en route to a .165 batting average. However, L.A. saw Bellinger closer to his MVP form, as he finished with two hits and a run. He has a .400 OBP during this series.
The Dodgers also got big contributions from Gavin Lux, who reached base all four times at bat. Smith also got involved with his eighth-inning blast that effectively extinguished any realistic hope of a Giants comeback.
Overall, the Dodger offense sprung to life at the right time, with the time sprinkling 12 hits and keeping the Giants on their heels. That led to a relatively comfortable win, forcing a do-or-die Game 5.
Missed Opportunities Doom Giants Offense Yet To Break Out
It felt like the Giants were running uphill all game trying to catch a Dodgers team that managed to stay a step or more ahead Tuesday evening.
Still, the Giants had multiple opportunities to go punch-for-punch with the Dodgers, who were on the ropes during a few innings.
It wasn't meant to be, however, as the Giants offense couldn't take advantage of their chances. Coupled with a rough night for the Giants pitching staff, and that was a recipe for the five-run loss.
In the second inning, the Giants put runners on first and second courtesy of Kris Bryant and LaMonte Wade singles. That brought up Evan Longoria, who entered the evening with a .357 lifetime batting average (5-for-14) against Buehler.
Four of those nine outs were strikeouts, though, and that's what Longoria did after a swing-and-miss on a nasty slider off the plate.
Buehler fell behind 2-0 to Mike Yastrzemski, but he fought back to induce a soft lineout to Turner and end the inning.
The Giants then mounted a rally in the fifth down 4-0, putting runners on first and second with one out after a Longoria single and a Steven Duggar walk. That led to Buehler giving way to hard-throwing reliever Joe Kelly, who then allowed a Tommy La Stella single to load the bases.
The tying run arrived to the plate in the form of Darin Ruf, but Kelly forced a groundout that scored one.
Up came Brandon Crawford, but down went the Giants after Kelly forced another groundout that ended the inning.
Crawford did get things going in the eighth with a leadoff double, but three straight outs soon followed.
The offense hasn't given the pitching staff much insurance this series, with the team scoring just nine runs in four games.
It's not going to get any easier with 20-game winner Julio Urias scheduled to take the ball for the Dodgers in Game 5.
However, this Giants offense scored 804 runs and helped guide this team to its best regular season in franchise history.
A breakout could be on the way Thursday, but another off-night at the dish could leave the team in another precarious spot barring a masterful performance from Giants starter Logan Webb.
What's Next?
San Francisco will host L.A. for Game 5 on Thursday at 9:07 p.m. ET in Oracle Park for what promises to be an epic matchup between the two best teams in baseball.
The 107-55 Giants edged the 106-56 Dodgers by one game for the NL West crown and homefield advantage through the MLB playoffs. The 100-62 Tampa Bay Rays were the only other team to win 100 or more games.
Now they'll play one game to decide who advances to the NL Championship Series.
Urias (20-3, 2.96 ERA, 195 K) will take the mound for L.A. The Giants will go with Webb (11-3, 3.03 ERA, 158 K)
The winner will meet the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series. Atlanta finished off the Milwaukee Brewers in four NLDS games. The Braves ended their series with a 5-4 home win Tuesday.
The best-of-seven NLCS will begin Saturday at a to-be-determined time. The winner of the San Francisco-Los Angeles series will have homefield advantage and host Game 1 against Atlanta. TBS will be the television home for the entire matchup.
The Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros will face off in the American League Championship Series starting Friday.
The ALCS and NLCS winners will square off in the best-of-seven World Series starting Tuesday, Oct. 26.
Evan Longoria Home Run Gives Giants Game 3 Win over Max Scherzer, Dodgers
Oct 12, 2021
Los Angeles, CA - October 11: San Francisco Giants Evan Longoria follows through on a swing for a solo home run during the fifth inning in game three of the 2021 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants are one win away from eliminating their archrivals from the playoffs.
San Francisco defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 in Monday's Game 3 of their National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium. Evan Longoria provided the only offense with a solo home run, and the pitching and defense did the rest as the victors bounced back from their Game 2 loss and regained home-field advantage with a 2-1 series lead.
An impressive showing from Max Scherzer wasn't enough for the Dodgers, who now have to win two in a row to keep their championship defense alive.
Notable Player Stats
Evan Longoria, 3B, SF: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Alex Wood, P, SF: 4.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Max Scherzer, P, LAD: 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K
Albert Pujols, 1B, LAD: 2-for-2
Evan Longoria's Home Run Ruins Scherzer's Gem
The Giants had quite the daunting task in Monday's game.
Not only did they have to face a three-time Cy Young winner in Scherzer, but they also had to do so while he was looking to bounce back from a lackluster start by his elevated standards. He went just 4.1 innings in the Wild Card Game against the St. Louis Cardinals and struggled with control and his pitch count.
Scherzer, who was perhaps pitching with even more motivation after his last showing, was largely brilliant.
He battled out of a first-inning jam and through gusty winds before settling down and steamrolling his way through San Francisco's lineup. The Giants seemingly had no chance to generate any hard contact as they swung through his fastballs and offspeed pitches without much of a threat.
Yet one swing of the bat changed the entire tenor of the game.
Longoria launched a solo homer to start the fifth to break the deadlock and overall dominance from the pitchers. That was all the Giants needed given their own pitchers' efforts, which was welcome news for the visitors who failed to rally against the bullpen combination of Blake Treinen and Kenley Jansen.
It will surely take more than a single run to close out the defending champions, but that was all that was necessary for San Francisco in Game 3.
Pitching, Defense Propel Giants to Win
Matching Scherzer takes an excellent group effort, and that is exactly what the Giants got from their pitchers and defense Monday.
Former Dodger Alex Wood started things off and didn't give up a single hit to anybody outside of Albert Pujols. Even Pujols' two hits were singles that ended up harmless for the southpaw, who also worked around two walks while striking out four and preventing any serious trouble.
It was an admirable showing, although he needed some help in the fifth when Tyler Rogers entered the game and retired Mookie Betts with the potential tying run on base.
That was just the start for Rogers, who also pitched a scoreless sixth and started the seventh. It was only a matter of time before the daunting Los Angeles lineup would rally, and it did just that with back-to-back singles from Steven Souza Jr. and Will Smith in that seventh off Rogers.
Enter Jake McGee, who blew a fastball past Austin Barnes for a clutch strikeout before Brandon Crawford potentially saved the game and preserved the lead with a leaping catch on Betts' screaming line drive. It was fitting the defense shone through since second baseman Donovan Solano also made a diving stop to retire AJ Pollock earlier in the inning.
All that was left was two innings for Camilo Doval, and the hard-throwing youngster started by going 1-2-3 in the eighth.
The 24-year-old slammed the door in the ninth as well, although the wind probably gave him an assist in a thrilling final moment. It appeared as if Gavin Lux tied the game with a home run to left-center, but the wind helped knock it down and give the Giants the impressive road victory.
What's Next?
The series remains in Los Angeles for Tuesday's Game 4.
Now down to the final eight MLB teams contending for a World Series, it's worth taking a look at the best remaining lineups. Some of the best lineups in baseball, like the Toronto Blue Jays and St...
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers Rout Giants 9-2 in Game 2 to Even NLDS 1-1
Oct 10, 2021
Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger (35) is congratulated by Gavin Lux after scoring against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of Game 2 of a baseball National League Division Series Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
Julio Urias was dealing, Cody Bellinger found his stroke and the Los Angeles Dodgers evened their NLDS matchup with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night, winning 9-2.
Urias wasn't just excellent on the mound. He also knocked in a run with a second-inning RBI.
Mookie Betts also showed up in a big way, with an RBI single and an incredible throw to cut down Wilmer Flores as he attempted to reach third on a single, ending a potential Giants rally in the bottom of the sixth. It was the second of two excellent defensive plays from the Dodgers at a key moment:
The Dodgers would add another three runs in the top of the eighth, wrapping up Game 2.
So the series now heads to Los Angeles, tied at a game apiece, with the Dodgers controlling homefield advantage. Thus far, the two best teams in baseball throughout the regular seasonâand two bitter NL West rivalsâhaven't disappointed in this series.
Key Stats
Julio Urias, LAD: Five innings, three hits, one run, five strikeouts
Cody Bellinger, LAD: 1-for-4, two RBI, one run
Chris Taylor, LAD: 2-for-4, three runs
Kevin Gausman, SFG: 5.1 innings, four hits, four runs, seven strikeouts
Buster Posey, SFG: 3-for-4
Brandon Crawford, SFG: 2-for-4, one RBI
If Bellinger Gets Going, Look Out Below
It's no secret that the 2021 season was a struggle for Bellinger. The 2019 NL MVP hit a woeful .165 with just 10 homers and 36 RBI in 95 games.
But there are signs that Bellinger might be turning things around at precisely the right time for Los Angeles. He had a hit and two walks in the Wild Card win over the St. Louis Cardinals. His double on Saturday night helped break the game open.
It's safe to say he really needed that hit:
Cody Bellinger was hitting .038 (2-for-53) with 25 strikeouts in the regular season and the postseason vs. the #SFGiants until his 2-run double helping break open this game. Dodgers up 6-1.
If Bellinger can regain his mojo, an already dangerous Dodgers lineup becomes that much scarier. The Dodgers probably don't need 2019 Bellinger to return to win this series, given the other talent on the roster, but it sure would help.
Paging Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria has now gone seven straight games without a hit. He came into the night hitting .116 with no homers, no RBI and four runs over his previous 43 at-bats across the past 15 games.
Longoria finds himself in a slump of epic proportions. Granted, he was hitting seventh for the Giants on Saturday night, so it's not as though the team is relying on his bat in the middle of the lineup. And his contributions at the hot corner shouldn't be overlooked.
But he's essentially been an automatic out for opposing pitchers in the past week or so.
Longoria wasn't the reason the Giants lost Game 2. The pitching stuff holds that L. But his struggles at the plate are becoming seriously detrimental for the Giants at the worst possible time.
What's Next?
Game 3 is at Dodger Stadium on Monday night at 9:37 p.m. ET (TBS). Max Scherzer is set to take the mound for the Dodgers against a pitcher to be determined for the Giants.
MLB Playoffs 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Predictions for Saturday's NLDS
Oct 9, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Kevin Gausman #34 of the San Francisco Giants and teammates celebrates after Gausman hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to score Brandon Crawford #35 to defeat the Atlanta Braves 6-5 in the bottom of the 11th inning at Oracle Park on September 17, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
After sharing the spotlight with the American League on Friday, the two National League Division Series will have the stage all to themselves Saturday.
Game 2 of the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves-Milwaukee Brewers series are set to be played.
Looking ahead to these matchups, let's go over the odds and some notable fantasy bets that can help add to your enjoyment of the NLDS.
2021 NLDS Game 2 Odds
Atlanta Braves +114 (wager $100 to win $114) at Milwaukee Brewers -134 (wager $134 to win $100)
Los Angeles Dodgers +158 at San Francisco Giants -192
With a lighter playoff schedule than there was Friday, the DFS pickings are slimmer. But each of the four teams boasts one player who looks poised to have a standout performance.
Atlanta starter Max Fried is arguably the best bet among all four starting pitchers Saturday. The southpaw had a terrific regular season with a 3.04 ERA and career-low 1.09 WHIP in 28 starts.
Even though the playoffs are an entirely different animal, Milwaukee's lineup plays into Fried's hand.
Per Zach Kram of The Ringer, the Brewers are the only team in the divisional round who posted a below-average wRC+ (97) in the regular season. Their 738 runs scored ranked a respectable 12th in MLB, but depth is an issue for the NL Central champs.
Only four of Milwaukee's eight regular position players had an average or better OPS+ (100). Fried is also a rare left-handed starter who gets opposite-handed hitters out at a better rate than same-handed hitters.
Righties had a .611 OPS against Fried in 2021, compared to a .707 mark against lefties.
It projects to be a very low-scoring game at American Family Field, so Brandon Woodruff is the must-start player from the Brewers you need to add.
Woodruff was overshadowed in his own rotation this season by Corbin Burnes, but the 28-year-old has been brilliant in his own right. Opposing hitters had a .573 OPS against him in 2021, and he has a deep repertoire of pitches to get outs.
Only 7 pitchers recorded a run value of at least -5 on three different pitches this season (min. 100 PAs against each pitch):
Brandon Woodruff Lance Lynn Lance McCullers Max Fried Walker Buehler Zack Wheeler Marcus Stroman (-6 slider; -5 cutter; -5 sinker)@STR0#Mets#LGM
The Braves aren't a high-contact offense. They had 1,453 strikeouts during the regular season, 11th-most in MLB. Woodruff should have no problem putting up zeroes and notching a lot of strikeouts in this game.
In the Dodgers-Giants game, you could go in any number of directions and feel confident about where things will end up.
Los Angeles catcher Will Smith is an under-the-radar option, at least on his own team. The 26-year-old would be the best hitter in most other lineups across MLB.
Smith's .270/.383/.529 slash line with 19 homers against right-handed pitching this season bodes well for a matchup against Giants star Kevin Gausman. He's also gotten stronger as the year has gone on with a .936 OPS after the All-Star break, compared to an .800 mark in the first half.
In 16 games against the Giants during the regular season, Smith had a .275/.393/.490 slash line.
From the Giants side, Evan Longoria is a potential sleeper to go off in a game being started against Julio Urias. The three-time All-Star had a 1.088 OPS against lefties during the regular season.
That stat line does come with a bit of a caveat since Longoria only played 81 games and had a total of 66 at-bats against southpaws. He also didn't play in any of the 19 matchups between the Giants and Dodgers in the regular season.
This does make Longoria more risky than the other players who have been mentioned. But one reason to feel more optimistic is because he has historically hit well against left-handed pitching. Longoria's career OPS against southpaws is 89 points higher (.872) than it is against righties (.783).
A big playoff game from Longoria would also be in keeping with this Giants season. He doesn't jump out at you on initial glance, but 107 wins later, it's hard to deny that this is a great team that has the potential to go far in October.
Logan Webb Twirls Gem as Giants Beat Dodgers to Take 1-0 NLDS Lead
Oct 9, 2021
San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers' Trea Turner during the sixth inning of Game 1 of a baseball National League Division Series Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
In a showdown between the two best teams in Major League Baseball during the regular season, the San Francisco Giants defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Friday night.
The Dodgers' quest to repeat as World Series champions had a dramatic start with a 3-1 walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the Wild Card Game. That set up a playoff matchup with their biggest rival for the first time in the modern era.
The Giants are in the postseason for the first time since 2016. They surpassed even the most optimistic expectations during the regular season with a franchise-record 107 wins.
Not surprisingly, in a game started by Walker Buehler and Logan Webb, runs were difficult to come by for both teams. The Giants did breakthrough early on a two-run homer by Buster Posey.
That wound up being more than enough support for Webb. The right-hander shutout the Dodgers for 7.2innings to get the win.
Notable Game Stats
Logan Webb (SF): 7.2 IP, 5 H, 10 K (92 pitches)
Buster Posey (SF): 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Kris Bryant (SF): 3-for-3, HR, RBI
Walker Buehler (LA): 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 5 K (99 pitches)
Mookie Betts (LA): 2-for-4
Posey, Webb Shine for Giants in Game 1 Win
Posey's first playoff game in five years got off to a rousing start. The 2012 NL MVP took Buehler deep to the opposite field on a 3-0 pitch in the bottom of the first to get the Giants out to a 2-0 lead.
That would turn out to be all of the offense San Francisco needed. Logan Webb, in his first career postseason start, was not at all intimidated going up against the defending World Series champions.
Webb cruised through 7.2innings on just 92pitches before giving way to the bullpen. The Dodgers didn't have an extra-base hit until Corey Seager's two-out double in the top of the sixth.
This is a continuation of the 24-year-old Webb's brilliant evolution in 2021 after posting a 5.36 ERA in 94 innings over the previous two seasons combined.
Logan Webb has been locked in all year. Love his pitch profiles and how he attacks the zone. His style of pitching will outlast any trends that come and go in this game. He gets early weak contact that allows him to go deep in gamesâŠhelping to save and keep his bullpen healthy!
As is often the case in a low-scoring affair, Webb also received some help from his defense. Tommy La Stella and Brandon Crawford teamed up for a fantastic double play in the top of the fourth to end a potential Dodgers rally.
Ultimately, though, this game came back to Webb making a big pitch in a key spot.
After Will Smith doubled with one out in the top of the seventh, Webb responded by striking out Matt Beatty and Cody Bellinger to escape without any damage done.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler had a difficult decision to make about who would start Game 1. He opted to go with Webb and save Kevin Gausman for Game 2.
Webb made his skipper look very smart by turning in a seven-inning masterpiece against one of the most dangerous lineups in MLB. The Giants picked up right where they left off in the regular season. They can take a commanding lead with a win on Saturday before heading to Dodger Stadium.
Quiet Offense Gives Dodgers Cause for Concern
It would be hard for the Dodgers to get more out of Walker Buehler than they were able to on Friday night. The two-time All-Star only allowed three runs over 6.1 innings.
Even though the Giants did get to Buehler for two homers, he pitched well overall with five strikeouts and one walk on 99 pitches.
Buehler's first inning did continue a concerning postseason trend for the Dodgers that started in the NL Wild Card game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In their first 11 innings of the 2021 playoffs, pitchers for the Dodgers have yet to have a 1-2-3 inning.
The Dodgers were able to get away with giving up baserunners to the Cardinals in their 3-1 win.
But this game did continue to highlight the early struggles their offense has endured so far in the playoffs. Chris Taylor's walk-off homer against the Cardinals is the only time they have scored more than one run in 18 postseason innings.
Outside of the two home runs in the WC, the #Dodgers offense has been horrendous in these two games
On a night when Buehler was good-not-perfect, the Dodgers needed to find some way to support their ace.
Instead, Los Angeles' bats were once again flummoxed by a starting pitcher. Adam Wainwright gave up one run and scattered four hits in 5.1 innings on Wednesday.
The Dodgers had five straight games to end the regular season in which they had at least one multi-run inning. Their lineup ranked fourth in MLB in runs scored and homers in 2021.
Los Angeles' top four hittersâMookie Betts, Corey Seager, Trea Turner, Justin Turnerâcombined to go 3-for-16 with one extra-base hit.
It's not yet time for the Dodgers to panic, but their best hitters need to get back on track to take some of the pressure off the pitching staff that has lived up to its end of the bargain so far in these playoffs.
What's Next?
The Dodgers will send Julio Urias to the mound against Kevin Gausman and the Giants in Game 2 at Oracle Park on Saturday night at 9:07 p.m. ET.
Report: Giants World Series Win Would Lose Multiple Sportsbooks More Than $1 Million
Oct 8, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 03: The NL West Champion San Francisco Giants pose on the pitching mound after their game against the San Diego Padres on Oct. 3, 2021 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Larry Placido/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Multiple sportsbooks stand to incur significant losses if the San Francisco Giants win the 2021 World Series.
According to ESPN's Doug Kezirian, some sportsbooks could lose more than $1 million if the Giants go the distance after posting an MLB-best 107-55 record during the regular season.
Kezirian noted that the Giants opened the season with 100-1 odds to win the World Series, and while the odds gradually dropped over the course of the season, bettors could still get 10-1 odds on them in July even as they were leading the National League West.
The Giants are set to clash with the NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. The Dodgers won the World Series last year and finished one game behind the Giants during the 2021 regular season.
MGM Director of Trading Jeff Stoneback told Kezirian that MGM will get "crushed" if the Giants win the World Series. SuperBook Executive Director John Murray expressed a similar sentiment and noted that the sportsbook "didn't think [the Giants] had a real chance" to go the distance, which is why their odds remained high for much of the season.
The Dodgers were overwhelming favorites to win the NL West this season after winning the World Series last season, bringing back largely the same team and adding shortstop Trea Turner and starting pitcher Max Scherzer in a trade with the Washington Nationals prior to the deadline.
While the Dodgers weren't quite able to catch the Giants, they were nine games better than any other team in the NL this season and remain favored to win the World Series.
As such, the Dodgers are favored to knock off the Giants in the five-game NLDS despite the fact that San Francisco has homefield advantage.
DraftKings lists the Dodgers as +245 favorites to repeat as World Series champions, while the Giants are the No. 4 betting choice at +750. Sandwiched between them are the Houston Astros at +400 and Tampa Bay Rays at +500.
Given where the odds stand, the winner of the NLDS between the Dodgers and Giants will be favored to represent the NL in the World Series.
Little was expected of the Giants this season since they entered 2021 having missed the playoffs in four straight years, although they did exceed expectations last season by going 29-31.
The Giants have a somewhat recent history of playoff success, winning the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and if they can add 2021 to that list, sportsbooks will have to hope for better results in NFL and college football betting to mitigate the losses.
Expectations vary every season for different players and teams. One of the more fun exercises after a season ends is to evaluate how well they measured up to the expectations, whether they fell short or succeeded...
