When it comes to MLB matchups, there could be a better pairing to point to for two teams that need a shot in the arm than the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres.
Giants vs. Padres Series Recap
The Padres have lost eight of their past ten games and have sunk six games below the Dodgers in the NL West Division race.
When it comes to the Giants, San Francisco has lost three of its past ten games and is trying to keep up in the division and MLB standings.
Both teams will send pitchers with solid records and sub-3.5 ERAs to the mound. While this game won’t necessarily be a make-or-break for either team’s season, this is an opportunity to get a good start in a four-game series that can help both sides gain momentum as the All-Star break inches closer.
San Francisco beat San Francisco 7-5 Wednesday on the road. The Giants are 41-39. San Diego lost to Seattle 6-2 Tuesday on the road. The Padres are 47-36.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres
Dodgers Lineup Analysis
Anyone making MLB picks today must be encouraged by the Giants seeing some offensive turnaround to prevent a sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks.
San Francisco plated five runs in the final two innings to escape with a 7-5 win Wednesday night. Darin Ruf hit a two-run pinch-hit home run, his seventh long ball of the season, to tie the game before his teammates could punch through three more runs and win.
Giants Starting Pitcher
The Giants will send Logan Webb to the mound against San Diego. Webb is 7-3 this season with a 3.13 ERA that ranks 25th in the league. Webb also is 38th in strikeouts with 86.
In Webb’s previous start against San Diego, a 2-1 San Francisco Giants win on April 13 at home, Webb threw eight innings and only allowed one run with seven strikeouts.
Padres Lineup Analysis
Most teams that have faced Padres ace Joe Musgrove can’t feel good about their spot in the MLB standings following the game.
Joe Musgrove Performance
- Musgrove is 8-2 this season with a 2.25 ERA, which ranks fifth in the league. There’s been a little secret to how Musgrove is able to get batters out.
- Musgrove ranks 25th in the league with 92 strikeouts.
As good as Musgrove has been, however, he would like to bust out of a mini-slump of his own. While the Padres are 11-3 in games Musgrove starts, they have lost the past two.
In one, Musgrove gave up six runs in six innings against the Phillies. In his last start against the Dodgers on June 30, Musgrove struck out 10, but the offense couldn’t pick him up in a 3-1 loss.
Manny Machado Analysis
Manny Machado is winning San Diego’s version of the triple crown. He is leading the Padres in batting average (.316), home runs (12), and RBIs (46).
San Diego is in the middle of the pack offensively, ranking 14th in runs produced with 4.45 runs per game. The San Diego Padres don’t have much power in the lineup, ranking 25th in the MLB with 68 home runs.
Giants Injury Report
The Giants put the third baseman, Evan Longoria, on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique. San Francisco starting pitcher Alex Wood is listed as day-to-day. San Diego shortstop Fernardo Tatis Jr. remains on the 60-day IL with a wrist injury.
Teams Betting Trends
- San Francisco is 40-39 against the run line.
- San Diego is 47-36 against the run line.
- The over is 38-36-5 in the Giants’ games this season.
- The over is 37-44-2 in the Padres’ games this season.
- The over has gone 6-3-1 in San Francisco’s last ten games.
- The over has gone 5-5 in San Diego’s last ten games.
Giants vs. Padres Betting Preview
MLB odds have the Padres as -134 favorites. San Francisco is +114. The over/under is set at 6.5 runs. Padres suffering their worst stretch of the season, San Diego will be looking for Musgrove to stop the bleeding and help set the season on the right track.
San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres Betting Prediction
San Francisco is also looking to keep its season on the rails and has a competent pitcher going Thursday night as well.
While the Padres’ offense certainly doesn’t have the punch it needs just yet to make a run at the NL pennant, San Diego will find enough runs to hand the Giants a loss and start the series on the right foot.
MLB Pick: Padres (-134)
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