Sports Today Friday, September 18
← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 18, 2026
San Francisco Giants
64-89 · 4th in NL West, 29 GB
Offense cooling lately
Cesar Perdomo
@
Los Angeles Dodgers
93-60 · 1st in NL West
Offense cooling lately
RHP Tyler Glasnow · Elite strikeout stuff
MLB · UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, hits run 7% below average here · 7:15 PM PT

Team Identity

San Francisco Giants
Season-to-date, 153 games, 5,889 PA.
An opportunistic, power-hitting offense that cashes in scoring chances, though it can be free-swinging. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg79
Contact
Above Avg68
Plate Discipline
Well Below19
Speed
Below Avg30
RISP
Above Avg80
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 7% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Season-to-date, 153 games, 6,019 PA.
A patient, contact-oriented offense that works counts and draws walks, though it can be station-to-station. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg81
Contact
Elite90
Plate Discipline
Elite94
Speed
Below Avg30
RISP
Elite89
Recent Form
Trending Down
Hit rate is down 15% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Dodgers bring the more patient profile, while Giants lean on being opportunistic.

Swing Factor

Tyler Glasnow strikes hitters out at a 29.8% clip (94th percentile); Giants carry a 20.9% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Giants are trending down and Dodgers are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Tyler Glasnow miss enough bats?
Tyler Glasnow strikes hitters out at a 29.8% clip (94th percentile); Giants carry a 20.9% strikeout rate.
Edge · GiantsTyler Glasnow: 29.8% K rateGiants: 20.9% K rateModerate confidence
Can Tyler Glasnow command the strike zone?
Giants walk in 7.3% of trips; Tyler Glasnow allows walks at a fairly typical rate (8.1%).
Edge · Tyler GlasnowGiants: 7.3% walk rateTyler Glasnow: 8.1% walks allowedModerate confidence
How do Giants handle right-handers?
Giants have produced better against right-handers this season (0.369 vs. 0.359 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Giantsvs right-handers: 0.369 TB/PA (4154 PA)overall: 0.359 TB/PAModerate confidence
Can Tyler Glasnow limit Giants' power?
Giants rank in the 79th percentile in extra-base production, while Tyler Glasnow sits in the 87th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Tyler GlasnowGiants: 0.359 TB/PATyler Glasnow: 0.264 TB/PA allowed (258 PA)Moderate confidence

Pitcher Trends

Tyler Glasnow
Tyler Glasnow
Los Angeles Dodgers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts7.5/start
Hits allowed3.8/start
6+ Strikeouts — 6 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
30% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Kyle Tucker
Kyle Tucker
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.293 hit rate · 0.707 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2513 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 136% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 12%.
Shay Whitcomb
Shay Whitcomb
San Francisco Giants · 0.303 hit rate · 0.424 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2512 / 25
Hit rate is up 173% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 12%.
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.270 hit rate · 0.568 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2518 / 25
Total bases per PA is up 60% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 9 games.
Alex Call
Alex Call
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.000 hit rate · 0.000 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L50 / 5L102 / 10L257 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 100% over his prior baseline, with hits in 0 of his last 5 games.
Tommy Edman
Tommy Edman
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.023 hit rate · 0.023 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L101 / 10L2511 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 94% over his prior baseline, with hits in 1 of his last 10 games.
Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman
Los Angeles Dodgers · 0.152 hit rate · 0.152 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L103 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 61% over his prior baseline, with hits in 2 of his last 7 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

80
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Batting 1st, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
80
Bryce Eldridge
Bryce Eldridge
1+ Hit
San Francisco Giants
Why it stands out
Batting 2nd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Recent hit rate has cooled
77
Jonah Cox
Jonah Cox
1+ Hit
San Francisco Giants
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
73
Luis Arraez
Luis Arraez
1+ Hit
San Francisco Giants
Why it stands out
Batting 4th, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
72
Heliot Ramos
Heliot Ramos
1+ Hit
San Francisco Giants
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
No notable risk
67
Teoscar Hernandez
Teoscar Hernandez
1+ Hit
Los Angeles Dodgers
Why it stands out
Batting 3rd, confirmed lineup
Main risk
Ice cold — 3 hits in the last 25 plate appearances

Expected Game Shape

UncertainLow confidence

Probable-starter data is incomplete, so the shape is hard to call.

Early edge Dodgers Driver Unclear without matched starters Volatility Moderate
  • At least one probable starter could not be matched to stored data.
  • Giants are trending down; Dodgers are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Can Alex Call snap out of it?
Alex Call has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 100% over his prior baseline, with hits in 0 of his last 5 games.
0.000 hit rate · 0.000 TB/PA · 0.209 hit rate · 0.271 TB/PA
Is Kyle Tucker the one to watch?
Kyle Tucker enters as Dodgers' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 136% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 12%.
0.293 hit rate · 0.707 TB/PA · 0.189 hit rate · 0.299 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-18, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.