Giants vs. Dodgers Monday MLB injury report, probable pitchers, odds: Kevin Gausman, Buster Posey back for San Francisco; Mookie Betts expected for Los Angeles

It's not too often you will see a team whose starting pitcher has an ERA south of 2.00 at this point in the season and said club is a betting underdog in an MLB game, but that's the case for the San Francisco Giants on Monday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers despite Kevin Gausman's sparkling 1.73 ERA. The Giants also will get back All-Star catcher Buster Posey from the injured list. L.A. should have outfielder and former MVP Mookie Betts in the lineup.

If Jacob deGrom weren't an alien, Gausman would probably be an NL Cy Young betting favorite – although perhaps that race isn't over yet with deGrom hurt again – with that stellar ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 9-3 record and 133 strikeouts in 114.2 innings. Gausman, a first-time All-Star in 2021, had been away from the team for a few days as his wife had some complications with her pregnancy but apparently everything worked out. Gausman is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA this year in two starts vs. L.A. The Dodgers are hitting a collective .132 off him.

As for Posey, the likely future Hall of Famer is having a great season in batting .328 with 12 homers and 28 RBIs in 58 games. He hasn't played since July 4 due to a thumb injury – which kept him from appearing in the All-Star Game -- but is expected to be activated ahead of tonight's game and in the lineup. Posey is hitting .250 with two homers and five RBIs this year in 24 at-bats vs. the Dodgers.

L.A. starts Tony Gonsolin (1-0, 2.13). That ERA is nice, but Gonsolin doesn't go deep into games – his longest start this year was 5.1 innings. He hasn't faced the Giants since 2019 and is 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in two career games (one start) against them.

All-Star outfielder Mookie Betts should be in the lineup after getting Sunday off due to a minor hip issue. Betts is hitting .271 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs. The Dodgers are 18-6 this season when Betts records multi-hit games.

Los Angeles lost without him 6-5 in 10 innings at Colorado on Sunday as Kenley Jansen had a rare blown save. It was his first appearance out of the break. The Dodgers had won eight in a row vs. the Rockies. L.A. second baseman Gavin Lux (.227, six HRs, 37 RBIs) left with a hamstring strain.

The Dodgers are 6-3 vs. the Giants this season on MLB picks and 3-3 at home.

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