MLB Betting Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants Odds, Analysis

The Los Angeles Dodgers started off the season a perfect 3-0 both straight up and on the run line, sweeping the San Diego Padres and winning each game by three runs or more. The Dodgers face a much tougher opponent in their weekend series against the San Francisco Giants.

Los Angeles is a plus-100 road betting underdog in Friday's game against the Giants, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. San Francisco (-120) sends Matt Cain to the mound to face Dodgers rookie Ross Stripling.

The Dodgers couldn't have asked for a better start to the season than their season-opening series against the Padres, as they shut out their lowly division rivals in three straight games.

Clayton Kershaw's dominance was to be expected, but the fact that newcomers Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda pitched so well in their team debuts bodes well for a Dodgers team that lacked pitching depth last season and lost Zack Greinke this offseason.

Including Thursday’s loss in the opening game of this four-game series, the Dodgers are just 2-9 in their last 11 road games against the Giants, per the Odds Shark MLB Database.

After winning the first two games in their season-opening series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Giants were unable to complete the sweep Wednesday, getting edged out in a 4-3 loss.

The offseason acquisitions of Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija give the Giants one of the deepest starting rotations in all of baseball, with veterans Jake Peavy and Cain now slotted in at the bottom of the rotation instead of the middle. San Francisco is 19-11 in its last 30 games at home.

Friday's total is set at eight runs. The under is 5-2 in the last seven games between these two National League West rivals.

Since the start of spring training, the odds to win the NL West have been among the closest of any of the division races, as the Giants are just slight favorites over the Dodgers. This race could go all the way down to the wire, so even head-to-head games in early April are important.

Staff aces Madison Bumgarner and Clayton Kershaw are projected to meet Saturday, and Sunday's game will feature Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir.