The San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres meet Saturday in MLB action from Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu. This will be the opener of a two-game weekend set. The Giants played the Cardinals in their last series, winning three of four. As for San Diego, they’re coming off two losses in three games versus the Cubs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants managed wins in the first three games of this week’s series versus the Cardinals: 4-0 Monday, 5-4 Tuesday and 7-3 Wednesday. In the finale San Francisco fell 6-0. Starter Logan Webb put up 6.2 innings in that one with two earned on seven hits and a walk.
For the starter job in the Saturday game, the Giants will send out Sean Manaea. In five games (three starts this year Manaea is 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA and 18 Ks in 16.1 innings. Manaea is 58-51 with a 4.10 ERA in his career over 164 games (159 starts).
San Diego Padres
Over on the San Diego side, they lost to the Cubs 6-0 in their opener but bounced back with a 5-3 Wednesday win. In the Thursday finale the Padres ended up with a 5-2 loss. Seth Lugo lasted 5.0 innings in the start with four earned on seven hits alongside three Ks.
It’ll be Joe Musgrove in the starting role Saturday for the Padres. In his lone start this year Musgrove went 5.0 innings with seven hits, three earned and no walks. Musgrove is 51-54 with a 3.80 career ERA in 171 games (145 starts).
The Giants are 5-1 in their last six overall and 2-5 in the last seven Saturday games. San Francisco is 2-5 in their last seven after a loss.
Meanwhile, the Padres are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games and 6-2 in their last eight versus the NL West. San Diego is 1-4 in their last five versus a lefty starter.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll probably lean Padres in this one, but I’m also probably staying away. The line’s pretty thick. Musgrove had some ups and downs in his first outing this year with three earned on seven hits over 5.0 innings—he got the victory versus the Diamondbacks, however. As for Manaea, he’s given up eight earned runs in 8.1 combined innings across his last three starts on nine hits and four walks. Manaea probably won’t be out there for too long unless he’s cruising. This one’s got the potential to be a reasonably high-scoring game and it should be a fun matchup to watch.