Series Preview: SF Giants vs. Dodgers - with a whimper, not a bang

The SF Giants welcome the Dodgers to Oracle Park for the final series of the 2023 season, needing a sweep to end the year at .500.

The SF Giants will end the year by hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three game series. After that, baseball is over - perhaps not for fans of the Dodgers, Braves, or any of the other postseason contenders, but it will be for Giants fans. At 78-81, all the Giants have left to play for is sweeping the Dodgers to avoid their fifth losing season in the last seven years. Just try to forget the last time the Giants hosted the Dodgers in a meaningless series to end the year.

At the very least, San Francisco will get to show off a bit more of the youth movement that's been arguably the only selling point of a doomed campaign. Keaton Winn, Tristan Beck, and Kyle Harrison will take the mound against LA this weekend, getting one final chance to display their skills ahead of a presumably tumultuous offseason. The larger question, though, is if an offense that's scored the second-fewest runs in baseball since the All-Star Break can even vaguely suggest doing enough to sneak in a win or two.

The stakes are clear. Sweep the Dodgers, no losing season. Win the series, keep the Dodgers from hitting 100 wins. Lose the series, best you can hope for is that one of the kids looks good anyways. Get swept, then it's pure humiliation at LA's hands, again. At least the Giants quietly have a shot at picking as high as 11th in the 2024 MLB Draft. Thank heavens for small favors.

Series details

Who: SF Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
When: September 29-October 1, Friday (7:15 PM), Saturday (6:05 PM), and Sunday (12:05 PM). All times Pacific.

Giants' current streak: L2, 3-7 in last 10, 78-81 overall

Playoff standing: Eliminated

Dodgers' current streak: L1, 6-4 in last 10, 98-61 overall

Playoff standing: Clinched NL West and #2 seed in NL

Projected starters

Friday: Keaton Winn (1-2, 3.89 ERA) vs. Lance Lynn (12-11, 5.83 ERA)

Saturday: Tristan Beck (3-3, 4.05 ERA) vs. Clayton Kershaw* (13-4, 2.42 ERA)

Sunday: Kyle Harrison* (1-1, 4.85 ERA) vs. Bobby Miller (11-4, 3.89 ERA)

*Indicates LHP

**Indicates opener

How to watch, listen

• SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
• Opposing broadcast: SportsNet LA, Dodgers Radio AM 570/KTNQ 1020
• National broadcasts: -
• Live stream: fuboTV (start your free trial)