The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers reignited one of baseball's most intense rivalries on Friday night, July 11, 2025, at Oracle Park. This clash marked the opener of a pivotal three-game series between two National League West heavyweights, with the Dodgers holding a five-game lead atop the division but grappling with a troubling slump. Fans across the nation tuned in to MLB Network at 10:15 p.m. ET to witness the drama unfold live from San Francisco.
The Giants entered the series with a respectable 51-43 overall record, boasting a solid 27-18 mark at home. Their recent form showed promise, having won four of their last five contests, including series victories over the Oakland Athletics and Philadelphia Phillies. This momentum contrasted sharply with the Dodgers’ struggles. The reigning World Series champions, standing at 56-38, were limping into the weekend after a six-game losing streak, swept consecutively by the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers. During this skid, Los Angeles’ offense sputtered, managing a paltry .190 batting average with just 10 runs scored over those six games. Star hitters like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman found themselves in uncharacteristic slumps, adding to the pressure on the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
On the mound, the Giants entrusted their ace, Logan Webb, to set the tone for the series. Webb, an All-Star and a true workhorse, had been a revelation in 2025. The right-hander entered the game with an impressive 8-6 record and a 2.62 ERA across 19 starts, ranking fifth in the National League in ERA and seventh in walk rate. Perhaps most notably, Webb had dominated the Dodgers just a month prior at Dodger Stadium, pitching seven innings and allowing only two earned runs in a 6-2 Giants victory. His strikeout prowess was evident, boasting a career-best 9.95 strikeouts per nine innings this season, making him a formidable adversary for the Dodgers’ lineup.
Countering Webb for the Dodgers was right-hander Dustin May, who has battled to regain his pre-injury form following elbow surgery that sidelined him for all of 2024. May’s 2025 campaign had been a rollercoaster; he started strong but had struggled recently, posting a 5.08 ERA over his last seven starts. Despite these challenges, May was coming off a morale-boosting seven-inning win against the Chicago White Sox. His season record stood at 5-5 with a 4.52 ERA. DraftKings Sportsbook set his strikeout over/under at 4.5, with the Over slightly favored, as projections anticipated around 5.2 punchouts from the tall right-hander.
Pre-game odds favored the Giants as slight favorites at -130, with the Dodgers listed as +108 underdogs. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates games thousands of times, surprisingly saw value in the Dodgers, predicting they would win 48% of simulations and cover a +1.5 run line in 69% of those runs. The model also favored the game to go Over the 7.5 total runs, projecting a close final score of Dodgers 4.6 to Giants 4.5.
Friday night’s game was broadcast on NBC Bay Area as well, with coverage starting at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET) on channel 11 (cable 3), ensuring local fans had front-row seats to the action. For those preferring streaming, options included FuboTV, DirecTV, and SlingTV, each offering free trials or introductory rates, though regional restrictions applied.
The stakes for this series could not be higher. The Dodgers, despite their recent offensive woes, still commanded a comfortable lead in the NL West. However, the Giants, with their recent surge and home-field advantage, were eager to chip away at that margin. The Dodgers’ six-game losing streak, marked by a lackluster .190/.269/.275 slash line and just 10 runs over that span, underscored their urgency to reverse course. Meanwhile, the Giants aimed to build on their momentum, having recovered from a difficult 16-game stretch where they went 4-12.
As the game progressed, all eyes remained on the pitching duel between Webb and May. Webb’s consistency and strikeout ability posed a significant challenge, while May’s effort to regain his elite form added intrigue. The Dodgers’ lineup, led by multi-threat Shohei Ohtani—who entered as the favorite to homer at +330 odds—was desperate to break through against Webb’s dominant presence.
The Giants’ offense, meanwhile, featured key contributors like Rafael Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Mike Yastrzemski, and Heliot Ramos, all aiming to exploit any cracks in May’s pitching. The game’s total runs line at 7.5 suggested expectations for an engaging back-and-forth battle.
As the first game of the series unfolded, the Dodgers’ fate remained uncertain. Would their offense awaken to halt the skid, or would the Giants continue their climb in the standings? The rivalry’s intensity was palpable, with both teams aware that every game in this division race could prove pivotal for the postseason chase.
With the series just beginning, the baseball world eagerly awaited the next chapters of this historic rivalry. The Dodgers looked to shake off their recent struggles and maintain their division lead, while the Giants sought to capitalize on their home advantage and recent form to close the gap. Fans were treated to a classic showdown that promised drama, skill, and the passion only this storied matchup can deliver.
