The San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds meet on Saturday in MLB action at the Great American Ball Park. Here’s a Reds vs Giants Prediction. This article will include a Reds vs Giants Pick.
San Francisco Giants Betting Preview
The San Francisco Giants play the Rangers, Brewers, and Pirates next. The Giants look to build on their Thursday opening day win where they came back from being down 0-3. The Giants stole that game from the Reds in the ninth inning, and they now look for their first 2-0 start since the 2018 season. Mike Yastrzemski leads the San Francisco Giants with 2 hits, while Matt Chapman and Wilmer Flores have combined for 2 hits and 3 RBI.
Justin Verlander gets the ball for the Giants, and he was 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA and 74 strikeouts last season. Verlander is 1-2 with a 4.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts in his career against the Reds.
Cincinnati Reds Betting Preview
The Cincinnati Reds play the Rangers, Brewers, and Pirates next. The Reds have to feel like they let one get away on Thursday, and it will be interesting to see how they respond. The Reds did enough to win their opener, but Ian Gibaut wasn’t able to close the deal. The Reds hope to avoid their first 0-2 start since the 2018 season. Christian Encarnacion-Strand leads the Cincinnati Reds with 2 hits, while Jeimer Candelario and TJ Friedl have combined for 4 hits and 4 RBI.
Nick Lodolo gets the ball for the Reds, and he was 9-6 with a 4.76 ERA and 122 strikeouts last season. This will be Lodolo’s second career game against the Giants.
Why the Cincinnati Reds will win
- The Reds have won each of their last eight home games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- The Giants have lost each of their last five games against NL Central opponents following a win.
- The Reds have covered the run line in each of their last seven home games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- The Giants have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six games as underdogs against NL Central opponents following a win.
- The Reds have led after 3 innings in 10 of their last 11 day games against the Giants at Great American Ball Park.
- The Reds have won the first inning in three of their last four home games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- The Reds have led after 5 innings in nine of their last 11 day games against the Giants at Great American Ball Park.
Why the San Francisco Giants will win
- The Giants have won five of their last six games as underdogs.
- The Reds have lost seven of their last 10 games as home favorites.
- The road team has covered the run line in nine of the Giants’ last 10 games.
- The Reds have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as home favorites following a loss.
- The Reds have trailed after 5 innings in five of their last six home games against National League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Giants have led after 3 innings in five of their last six games as underdogs.
Reds vs Giants Prediction
Justin Verlander isn’t the same pitcher he was even a couple of years ago when he won the CY Young with the Astros, as he’s now 42 years old. However, Verlander is still a capable pitcher who can get the job done, and it’s not often you get him in the underdog role. In fact, this will be the 11th time since 2019 that Verlander is an underdog.
Lodolo wasn’t great last season, with an ERA in the high fours, and he has had a walk issue throughout his career. You can also argue that the Giants are the more confident team overall, entering this game given how Thursday played out. But this comes down to getting Verlander as an underdog, regardless of his age. I’m rolling with the Giants.