Dodgers vs Giants — Historic Rivalry Closes Regular Season! Kershaw vs Webb Pits Hall-of-Fame Caliber Arms in Bay Showdown!

Sunday, September 27, 2026 | First Pitch: 3:05 PM ET | Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA


There is no rivalry quite like Dodgers-Giants. For more than a century, these two franchises have defined baseball in the West and on the final Sunday of the 2026 regular season, they renew hostilities once more at Oracle Park. First pitch is 3:05 PM ET, and while playoff seeding may already be locked in for some, pride, momentum, and bragging rights are very much on the line. The Los Angeles Dodgers send future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw to the mound for what could be his final regular-season start in this storied series. The San Francisco Giants counter with their own ace, Logan Webb, the workhorse who has been the rock of their rotation all year. Expect nothing less than a classic.

Clayton Kershaw: Vintage Down the Stretch

At 38 years young, Clayton Kershaw is still pitching like one of the best in the game. Over his last six starts, the legendary lefty has posted a 2.12 ERA, allowing just 34 hits across 34 innings while striking out 38 batters. His signature curveball is biting as hard as ever, and he’s sharpened his command of the four-seam fastball and slider to keep hitters honest. Kershaw knows these Giants better than anyone, he’s faced them more than 40 times in his career, and he thrives in high-leverage, meaningful outings.

The Dodgers lineup behind him is arguably the greatest assemblage of hitting talent in the modern era. Shohei Ohtani enters the finale with 48 home runs and 102 RBI, doing things no player has ever done before. Mookie Betts (.324 BA, 33 HR) and Freddie Freeman (.318 BA, 37 HR) form the most dangerous 3-4 combo in baseball, they see pitches, they don’t chase, and they punish mistakes. This group has scored more runs than any team in the NL, and they’re locked in heading into October.

Logan Webb: The Ace Who Carried San Francisco

For the Giants, Logan Webb has been the definition of an ace in 2026. The right-hander from Rocklin, California has been nearly unhittable at home all season, opponents are batting just .210 against him at Oracle Park. Webb pounds the strike zone with sinkers and sliders, inducing weak contact and ground balls by the bushel. He leads the team in innings pitched, quality starts, and ERA. When Webb takes the mound, the Giants know they have a chance to win every single time, and he’s shown the ability to go deep into games, preserving a bullpen that has been overworked down the stretch.

Webb will need to be at his absolute best to contain that Dodgers order. The Giants counter with their own run-producers: Joc Pederson has come alive in the second half with 18 home runs, and Mike Yastrzemski provides consistency and veteran leadership in the outfield. Shortstop Brandon Crawford, in what may be his final games in a Giants uniform has picked up his bat in September, delivering several clutch hits. The Giants aren’t just playing for wins; they’re playing to send their fanbase into the postseason with confidence and emotion.

Injury Notes & Lineup News

– Dodgers 2B Gavin Lux — DAY-TO-DAY (wrist bruise). If Lux sits, utility man Chris Taylor steps in — capable, but the infield defense loses some range and double-play ability.
– Giants C Patrick Bailey — ACTIVE. Day-to-day earlier in the week but good to go; his handling of Webb is critical.
– Dodgers RF Jason Heyward — RESTED. Sitting out the finale for maintenance; Trayce Thompson starts in right.

The Matchup Within the Matchup: Kershaw vs Webb & Ohtani

The head-to-head history between these starting pitchers is fascinating. Kershaw owns a 3-1 record with a 1.96 ERA in career starts against Webb’s Giants, but Webb has had success against the Dodgers too, he’s held them to 3 runs or fewer in 4 of his last 6 outings against them. The key battle: Webb vs Ohtani. Ohtani homered off Webb back on August 12, and pitchers generally live and die by how they handle the Dodgers’ superstar. If Webb can keep Ohtani in the ballpark and make him expand the zone, the Giants have a real shot. If Ohtani gets a pitch he can drive, it could be gone and Kershaw will take a lead and run with it.

Oracle Park favors pitchers who keep the ball down, exactly Webb’s game but Kershaw has conquered this venue time and again. The Dodgers lineup attacks sinker-ball pitchers exceptionally well, making Webb work harder than he’s accustomed to.

Expert Analysis & Prediction

This has all the makings of a tight, low-scoring pitcher’s duel, exactly what we expect when these two rivals meet in September. Kershaw has been masterful down the stretch and has a track record of elevating his game against San Francisco. Webb is tough at home and gives the Giants length, but the Dodgers lineup is simply deeper and more dangerous top to bottom. Expect this one to stay close for six or seven innings, but the Dodgers’ depth and ability to manufacture runs in small ways, stolen bases, moving runners, timely hitting, eventually wears down the Giants bullpen.

Final Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers win
Projected Score: Dodgers 5 – Giants 3

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Who takes the Bay? Dodgers or Giants? Let me know your call!