The Giants and Diamondbacks both entered this series on a rocky stretch, but it was Arizona that stopped the bleeding with a win on Monday.
The second of four games is on Tuesday, July 1 with Zac Gallen and Hayden Birdsong taking the mound. It’s a matchup between a 23-year-old, who’s primarily pitching out of the bullpen this year, and 29-year-old seeking to return to Cy Young form.
Arizona is a -137 favorite on the moneyline, and the game total is set at over/under nine runs on DraftKings Sportsbook. San Francisco is a +112 underdog.
Here’s my prediction and pick for Tuesday’s Diamondbacks vs. Giants matchup.
Diamondbacks vs. Giants prediction
Nothing quite like a good divisional matchup in baseball. The Giants and Diamondbacks are separated by just 2.5 games, so this series is critical for both squads.
San Francisco enters Tuesday having lost three straight and six of its last seven. Meanwhile, Arizona lost four straight before Monday’s victory.
The advantage should swing toward the Diamondbacks in theory because Gallen is on the mound. That said, he’s been struggling quite heavily this season. He owns a 5.75 ERA and allowed four or more runs in eight of his last nine starts.
This doesn’t mean Birdsong gives the Giants the edge, however. He’s started just seven games, while coming out of the bullpen 11 times. He has a 4.13 ERA and allowed seven runs to the Marlins in his last start.
The X-factor is Rafael Devers. The Giants traded for the star slugger a couple weeks ago, but he hasn’t performed up to his standards yet. He’s slashing .200/.310/.360 through 13 games with his new team.
The hope is that Devers finds his rhythm, so the Giants can climb back in the NL West standings. He’s historically been better against right handers, so he’ll have a good opportunity against Gallen.
A struggling pitcher meets a struggling batter. One should break, even if it’s just for an at-bat or two.
Diamondbacks vs. Giants pick, best bet
Gallen should bounce back, but the longer he plays this poorly, the more concerned I am for his season outlook. While I am still hopeful, I’m not siding with him tonight.
Devers also is bound to recover after a rough start in San Francisco. Tonight is his night. He’ll take advantage of a struggling pitcher and hit a home run — his third in the new threads.