Preview: Giants, Dodgers meet for the first time in 2024

Apr 1, 2024, 10:08 AM

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 18: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch agains...

(Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Major League Baseball regular season doesn’t feel like it’s started until the San Francisco Giants face the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Fresh off a season-opening four-game split with the San Diego Padres, the Giants (2-2) will head to Los Angeles on Monday night and begin a three-game set against the rival Dodgers (4-2) in Southern California.

In 2023, Los Angeles narrowly won the season series (7-6), but San Francisco hopes to turn the tables in 2024 after bringing in several notable players in free agency.

Of course, the Dodgers know a thing or two about acquiring star talent in free agency, as the Giants will face reigning MVP slugger Shohei Ohtani for the first time in blue and white.

After suffering a 13-4 defeat in San Diego on Sunday, San Francisco will send rookie right-hander Keaton Winn to the mound on Monday. He will face veteran lefty James Paxton, who will be making his Dodgers debut.

Jung Hoo Lee and Michael Conforto’s 8th inning explosion: Jon Miller style 🎙️

(#SFGiants x @peetscoffee) pic.twitter.com/pU2np9IGSf

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) March 31, 2024

Giants vs. Dodgers starters & first pitch

Monday, April 1st | Keaton Winn (0-0, —) vs. James Paxton (0-0, —) | 7:10 PM PST

Tuesday, April 2nd | Logan Webb (0-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 2.45 ERA) | 7:10 PM PST

Wednesday, April 3rd | TBD* (0-0, —) vs. Bobby Miller (1-0, 0.00 ERA) | 7:10 PM PST

*Reigning Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell could make his Giants debut on Wednesday, depending on how San Francisco plans to move forward with the left-hander.

Giants vs. Dodgers Matchup Stats

San Francisco

Keaton Winn in 2023 vs. LAD: (1 game) 0-1, 10.13 ERA, 5 K, 0 BB, 5.1 IP

Logan Webb in 2023 vs. LAD: (2 games) 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 11 K, 3 BB, 13.0 IP

Blake Snell in 2023 vs. LAD: (4 games) 1-1, 2.74 ERA, 26 K, 12 BB, 23.0 IP

Los Angeles

James Paxton in 2023 vs. SF: (1 game) 0-0, 1.80 ERA, 5 K, 2 BB, 5.0 IP

Tyler Glasnow in 2023 vs. SF: (1 game) 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 7 K, 3 BB, 6.0 IP

Bobby Miller in 2023 vs. SF (2 games) 0-1, 6.52 ERA, 9 K, 4 BB, 9.2 IP

Jung Hoo Lee’s third RBI in as many games 😎 pic.twitter.com/8l36Nf1hIk

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) March 31, 2024

Who’s Hot?

Jung Hoo Lee has driven in four runs over his first four MLB games while batting .286 over 14 at-bats.

Michael Conforto has drilled two homers and driven in five runs over his first 15 at-bats of the season.

Matt Chapman’s first series in the orange and black was successful, as the third baseman mashed two home runs and leads the Giants with 6 RBI heading into the series vs. Los Angeles.

Who’s Not?

San Francisco’s bullpen has struggled early, as the enter play on Monday holding a 9.00 ERA–the second-worst of any bullpen in baseball, only in front of the Philadelphia Phillies (11.57).

Recently signed slugger Jorge Soler has yet to drive in a run this season, as the veteran holds a team-worst .133 batting average over 18 plate appearances.