MLB matchup analysis

Giants vs Dodgers Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Friday, September 18, 2026 at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium · 10:15 PM ET

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Leo prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers moneyline

Lab Rating
7.0/10
Model lean
Dodgers 71.4%
Market probability
73.0%
Model edge
-1.6%
Best moneyline
-300
Sportsbooks checked
8
Leo model
71.4%
Market
73.0%

The case for Los Angeles Dodgers

Starting pitcher edge: 14 points
Leo gives Tyler Glasnow a 14-point edge over Cesar Perdomo, driven mainly by K/9 (11.2 vs 6.8) and K-BB% (23.2% vs 11.5%).
Bats are hot: +0.009 wOBA
Los Angeles Dodgers is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for San Francisco Giants

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Los Angeles Dodgers relievers have a 5.27 ERA over the last 7 days; San Francisco Giants relievers have a 1.46. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors San Francisco Giants.
Their bats are hot: +0.008 wOBA
San Francisco Giants is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 7.0/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 9.4/10
The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen comes in high risk. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 8.17/10
Leo's win probability for Los Angeles Dodgers (71.4%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 32/40
Tyler Glasnow rates 74 on Leo's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 29.73/50
Los Angeles Dodgers's recent offensive form clearly outpaces San Francisco Giants's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 63.7%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, Leo's team-strength model alone makes Los Angeles Dodgers 63.7% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 14 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Los Angeles Dodgers by 14 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.123
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward San Francisco Giants. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 63.7% -> 71.4%
Team strength alone had Los Angeles Dodgers at 63.7%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 71.4% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict Worth monitoring, nothing more. The setup has pieces but does not add up to a bet at today's price.
Read the full model output

Los Angeles Dodgers remains on the watchlist. Lab Rating 7.0/10: conviction 8.17, pitching plan 32, offense 29.73. Leo projects 71.3% against a 73.0% no-vig market number, a -1.6% model edge at -300. Los Angeles Dodgers owns the starting pitcher edge by 14 points. Bullpen read: Adds caution. Los Angeles Dodgers's pen efficiency: Below average (3.9/10). Lineup check: Los Angeles Dodgers is near its season form (+0.009 OPS); San Francisco Giants is near its season form (+0.014 OPS).

Game information

MatchupSan Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
DateFriday, September 18, 2026
First pitch10:15 PM ET
VenueUNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium
Starting pitchersCesar Perdomo vs Tyler Glasnow
WeatherGame-time forecast: 70°F, 0% precipitation chance, 7 mph wind from W.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Cesar PerdomoGiants · LHP
vs
Tyler GlasnowDodgers · RHP
MetricGiantsDodgers
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings5⅓5⅔
ThrowsLR
Leo pitcher score (higher is better)6074
ERA (lower is better)3.683.50
WHIP (lower is better)1.360.97
K/9 (higher is better)6.811.2
K-BB% (higher is better)11.5%23.2%
K% (higher is better)18.0%32.0%
BB% (lower is better)6.6%8.7%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.53.1
HR/9 (lower is better)1.20.9
Ground-ball rate50.0%43.7%
Fly-ball rate50.0%56.3%

Pitcher edge: Leo gives Tyler Glasnow a 14-point edge over Cesar Perdomo, driven mainly by K/9 (11.2 vs 6.8) and K-BB% (23.2% vs 11.5%).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Cesar Perdomo strikeouts
Not available Leo projected Ks
Market 2.5K · O -154 / U +130 · 5 books
Tyler Glasnow strikeouts
7.3 Leo projected Ks
Qualifying projection: OVER 6.5K · +0.8K difference
Market 6.5K · O -148 / U +118 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Giants are 5-5 in their last 10 and averaging 5.0 runs per game over the last 15 days; Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 and averaging 5.4 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Dodgers carry the better run differential per game (+1.17 against -0.46).

MetricGiantsDodgers
Last 105-57-3
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)5-5 on the road8-2 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7320.768
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3230.343
Runs per game, last 15 days5.05.4
K% last 15 days (lower is better)23.5%19.0%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysGiantsDodgers
OPS0.736 (+0.018 vs szn)0.727 (-0.032 vs szn)
Runs per game4.96 (+0.722 vs szn)4.81 (-0.153 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.324 (+0.010 vs szn)0.327 (-0.007 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)23.6% (+2.2% vs szn)20.5%

Over the last 30 days the Dodgers have been the better offense, 0.327 wOBA to 0.324.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricGiantsDodgers
Record64-8993-60
Run differential / game (team quality)-0.46+1.17
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.244.96
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.703.79
Season OPS0.7180.759
K% season (lower is better)21.5%20.4%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7380.745

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Giants and Dodgers are highlighted.

Giants
Combined risk
5.3 Normal
Fatigue
6.2 Tired
Efficiency
6.8 Effective
Dodgers
Combined risk
9.4 High risk
Fatigue
8.8 High risk
Efficiency
3.9 Below average

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricGiantsDodgers
Fatigue6.2/10, Tired8.8/10, High risk
Efficiency6.8/10, Effective3.9/10, Below average
Combined risk5.3/10, Normal9.4/10, High risk
Relief innings, last 7 days24.727.3
Back-to-back arms66
7-day ERA1.465.27
7-day WHIP1.181.61

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
Leo projection
9.4
Market total
8.0
Projected away runs
4.5
Projected home runs
4.6
Over price
-111
Under price
-102
San Francisco Giants team total
4.5 projected
Line 2.5 · O -120 / U +105
Over research lean (+2.0)
Los Angeles Dodgers team total
4.6 projected
Line 4.5 · O -136 / U +114
No team-total lean

The model projects 1.4 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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