Eldridge, 20, was the Giants' first-round pick in the 2023 draft. He's a 6-foot-7, 240-pound lefty with light-tower power, as evidenced by his 25 home runs in 102 minor-league games this season.

Smith, 30, injured himself in the top of the fourth on Friday. With runners on second and third, third baseman Matt Chapman made a diving stop of Andy Pages’ grounder and fired to Smith, who inadvertently did the splits. Smith’s extended lunge was needed as Chapman’s throw barely beat Pages’ speed, but Smith instantly collapsed onto his side.

It's not just a power stroke, either. The Giants are batting .315 as a team in the past 15 days, 39 points better than the next-best team in the majors (the Blue Jays at .276), and reduced their strikeouts to 87, the third fewest in MLB in this stretch.

Ben Rortvedt, the Dodgers’ No. 9 hitter, doubled with two outs, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. With a base open, Melvin elected to intentionally walk one MVP in Shohei Ohtani to get to another MVP in Betts. Melvin had two relievers ready and warmed but stuck with Verlander.