Diamondbacks vs. Giants prediction and odds for Tuesday, Aug. 1 (Home team undervalued)
Zac Gallen has momentum as a Cy Young candidate, but he's overrated on the road against the Giants.
The San Francisco Giants lost in extra innings on Monday in a pivotal series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Both teams are fighting for positioning in a crowded National League Wild Card race and every game against one another counts, and it will be massive if the Giants can take down Cy Young contender Zac Gallen and the D-Backs on Tuesday.
San Francisco will counter with Alex Cobb, one of the most reliable arms in the rotation. Can the team win in a projected coin flip?
Diamondbacks vs. Giants odds, run line and total
Diamondbacks vs. Giants prediction and pick
These are two teams trending in opposite directions, and while Gallen has the make up of a Cy Young contender, I believe he will be outclassed by Cobb, who is in far better form.
Both pitchers have been pitching above expectations, but we are starting to see Gallen struggle a bit more, allowing 11 earned runs over his last three starts. Overall, he has an ERA of 3.36 that is supported by an 3.86 xERA.
Meanwhile, Cobb's numbers scream that regression is coming, he has a 2.97 ERA that is supported by a 4.37 xERA, but he faces a Diamondbacks lineup that is fresh off a month that it hit at a bottom 10 rate.
Further, if both pitchers struggle, I far prefer the Giants bullpen at home. The club is sixth in bullpen ERA while the D-Backs have the eighth worst.
This game is being lined as a coin flip, but I give Cobb an edge on the mound, not to mention the bullpen advantage for the home team. Give me San Fran to even the series on Tuesday.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.