The baseball gods have spoken: the 2021 MLB season needs more big-time matchups between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The Giants hung on by a single win to beat out the Dodgers for the NL West pennant in the final day of the regular season, but the Dodgers made sure to meet San Fran again in the postseason by escaping the NL Wild Card round with a memorable walk-off win.

Nitrobetting is here to deliver the latest Major League Baseball news and coverage from the 2021 MLB playoffs and beyond. This time, let’s take a look at the opening bout between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants in Game 1 of the NLDS. Be on top of all the developments in Baseball by tuning in to the MLB odds, previews, and predictions for all the exciting postseason baseball action ahead. Be sure to check out for our Baseball betting odds and daily sports betting odds and lines at our online sportsbook!

Dodgers vs. Giants 2021 MLB NLDS Game 1 Information

• When: Friday, October 8, 2021, 9:37 PM ET
• Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
• TV: FS1, FS1-INT
• Radio: KLAC AM 570 (Dodgers) // KNBR-FM 104.5 FM (Giants)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Dodgers (TBA) / Giants (TBA)

READ MORE: White Sox vs. Astros 2021 MLB NLDS Game 1 Odds, Preview, and Prediction

Why bet on the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their spot in the NLDS against their long-time NL West rivals after they got an exhilarating 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday’s win-and-in NL Wild Card Game. Pinch-hitter Chris Taylor’s two-run shot out of Dodgers Stadium in the bottom of the ninth sent Los Angeles to its ninth consecutive postseason appearance.

It was a massive win for the defending champions, whose 106 wins in the 2021 regular season tied a franchise record that they had set just two years ago. Now comes a shockingly rare postseason matchup between the Dodgers and the Giants, who have not faced off in a playoff series since 1889; back when the Giants were still in New York and the Dodgers were laughingly dubbed as the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. Young ace Walker Buehler (16-4, 2.47 ERA) gets the starting nod in Game 1.

Beuhler has only allowed a single run over his last two starts (12 total innings), striking out 11 Brewers batters in his most recent start in just five innings of action. The Dodgers will need a stellar performance from their 27-year-old righty, especially considering that the Dodgers might still not have top slugger Max Muncy back in the lineup on Friday night due to a shoulder injury.

Why bet on the San Francisco Giants?

Thanks to a surprising and record-setting 107-win season, the San Francisco Giants are back in the playoffs for the first time in half a decade and held on for the division lead until the very last day of the 2021 regular season. First-year manager Gabe Kapler has done an amazing job of turning around a San Francisco organization that finished with four consecutive losing seasons prior to this year’s run.

Even-numbered season superstitions aside, the Giants have gotten massive contributions from their title-winning players from back in the early 2010s. Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Brandon Belt all saw resurgent campaigns this year, whilst also boasting one of the deepest pitching units in the National League. Unfortunately, Belt suffered a season-ending injury last month to take one huge weapon out of San Fran’s offense.

Thankfully, Logan Webb (11-3, 3.03 ERA) will take the mound in the series opener to get the Giants off on the right foot. Webb pitched seven innings with four runs allowed and eight K’s in the final, NL West-clinching regular-season game against the Padres, whilst also driving in a two-run shot in the fifth inning during the 11-4 win over San Diego.

Dodgers vs. Giants MLB Betting Trends

• The Dodgers are 6-3 on the road during the postseason since 2019.
• The Dodgers went 6-2 in their last eight regular-season road games.
• The run totals have gone over in each of LA’s last five regular-season games before taking the under in the NLWC against the Cards.
• The Giants are 6-2 in their last eight meetings against Los Angeles.
• The Giants are 7-2 in their last nine home games.
• The totals have gone under in five of San Francisco’s last eight games played in Oracle Park.

Dodgers vs. Giants Series Betting Prediction

The best series in the divisional round of the playoffs will be tough to decipher, as both the Giants and the Dodgers are the two best teams in baseball without a significant weakness. The regular-season series barely going to San Fran with a 10-9 record also indicates that Game 1 will be a toss-up. With that in mind, perhaps placing stakes on the over/under would be a better move with two of the NL West’s top aces going head-to-head taken into consideration.

READ MORE: 2021 World Series Odds Update (Oct. 2021)

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