Milwaukee Brewers vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions August 29th 2024

Giants, running out of time, seek series win vs. Brewers

At American Family Field in Milwaukee, we have an NL matchup between the Giants and Brewers. First pitch for Thursday’s matchup is set for 2:10 PM ET. BSWI will be televising the game.

The Giants are 67-67 this season, while the Brewers lead the NL Central with a record of 76-56. Milwaukee is favored on the money line, and the over/under line is at 8.5 runs. Aaron Civale will start for the Brewers, while the Giants are sending Hayden Birdsong to the mound.

San Francisco vs. Milwaukee Key Information

• Teams: Giants at Brewers
• Where: American Family Field Milwaukee
• Date: Thursday, August 29th
• Betting Odds MIL -135 | SF +115 O/U 8.5

The Giants Can Win If…

Right-hander Hayden Birdsong gets the start for the Giants today as he faces the Brewers on the road. He has made 10 starts this year and has a record of 3-3 with an ERA of 4.57. Birdsong’s WHIP for the season is 1.37, and opponents are batting .212 off him this year. In his 10 starts, Birdsong has turned in just one quality start and is averaging 10.72 strikeouts per nine innings. The last time he pitched, he finished with a no-decision, going four innings and not giving up a run to the Mariners. Before that, he had lost three straight starts.

Over the past seven games, Heliot Ramos has been swinging a hot bat for the Giants, going 9/26 with two homers and seven RBIs. This has pushed his season average to .284, and he is 2nd on the team with 20 homers. Ramos also comes into the game on a three-game hitting streak. Matt Chapman has also been a solid run producer for the Giants, as he has 64 RBIs to go along with a team-leading 21 homers.

For the season, the Giants are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. They have been an average offensive team in terms of batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Overall, the Giants are 18th in home runs and have the 11th best team batting average in the league.

• The Giants are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Giants are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• San Francisco has an over/under record of 4-3-3 in their last ten games.
• The Giants have an average of 4.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Giants are 5-5
• Looking back across the Giants last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• San Francisco has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Giants have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense

The Brewers Can Win If…

Milwaukee is sending Aaron Civale to the mound today vs. the Giants. The right-hander has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 4-8. Civale’s ERA is 4.84, along with a WHIP of 1.39. In his last outing, he finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in four innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts. Opponents are batting .261 off Civale this season, and he has allowed a total of 24 home runs. Civale has made six quality starts this year and is averaging 8.42 strikeouts per nine innings.

For the season, the Brewers are averaging 4.8 runs per game, which is 9th in the league. They have been a good home run hitting team this season and are batting .253 as a team, which is the 5th best mark in the league. The Brewers are also near the top of the league in on-base percentage and have the 2nd best team walk rate in the league.

Willy Adames has been one of the Brewers’ top power threats this season, as his 24 homers are the best mark on the team and 13th in the league. He is also 8th in the league with 88 RBIs. William Contreras comes into the game with a batting average of .283 and is 2nd on the team with 76 RBIs. Over his last eight games, Jackson Chourio is hitting .294 with a homer and seven RBIs.

• The Brewers are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Brewers are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Milwaukee has an over/under record of 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Brewers have an average of 6.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Brewers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Brewers last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Milwaukee has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Brewers have averaged 6.9 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Even though this one is projected to be the 3rd lowest-scoring game of the day, we are leaning towards taking the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Brewers to come out on top. Milwaukee starter Aaron Civale has the 6th best chance to pick up a win and Hayden Birdsong is 3rd among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.

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As the postseason race intensifies, the San Francisco Giants find themselves in a must-win situation as they face the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a crucial three-game series on Thursday afternoon. With time running out and their playoff hopes dwindling, the Giants need to capitalize on every remaining opportunity to stay in contention.

Pitching Matchup: Civale vs. Birdsong

The Milwaukee Brewers will entrust the mound to right-hander Aaron Civale (4-8, 4.84 ERA). Civale, who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in early July, has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled with consistency in his new uniform. In eight starts for the Brewers, Civale has posted a 4.35 ERA, giving up eight home runs over 41 1/3 innings. His most recent outing was a mixed bag—lasting just four innings against the Oakland A’s, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. Despite his struggles, Brewers manager Pat Murphy praised Civale’s ability to navigate a tough start, highlighting his experience and determination to push through four innings when he didn’t have his best stuff.

Opposing Civale is Giants rookie right-hander Hayden Birdsong (3-3, 4.57 ERA). Birdsong burst onto the scene with a stellar start to his major league career, going 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in July. However, August has been unkind to the young pitcher, who has stumbled to an 0-3 record with a 7.80 ERA this month. Command issues have plagued Birdsong, as evidenced by his latest outing, where he lasted just four innings against the Seattle Mariners, walking four batters despite allowing only one hit. Giants manager Bob Melvin acknowledged the pitcher’s struggles, particularly with command, a factor that will be critical in today’s game.

Brewers’ Momentum and Key Performers

The Brewers leveled the series with a 5-3 victory on Wednesday, thanks to a pivotal fifth-inning rally where they scored all their runs with two outs. William Contreras played a key role, capping the inning with a two-run homer off Giants starter Kyle Harrison. Contreras has been a consistent force for Milwaukee, hitting .304 with six homers and 17 RBIs over his last 21 games. His clutch performance underscores the depth and resilience of the Brewers’ lineup as they continue their push for postseason positioning.

Another hot bat for Milwaukee is center fielder Blake Perkins, who went 2-for-3 in the previous game and is hitting .354 over his past 18 games. Perkins’ recent surge at the plate has provided a significant boost to the Brewers’ offense, adding to the team’s overall depth and versatility.

The Brewers’ pitching staff has also been a strong point, particularly Freddy Peralta, who delivered a dominant performance on Wednesday with six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Peralta’s outing set the tone for Milwaukee, helping them end a brief two-game losing streak and maintain their nine-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central, the largest division lead in the majors.

Giants’ Playoff Hopes on the Line

For the Giants, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Wednesday’s loss marked their fourth defeat in the last six games, pushing them 6 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves for the final National League wild-card spot. The Giants’ recent struggles have come at the worst possible time, with their postseason aspirations slipping further away with each loss.

San Francisco’s offense showed signs of life late in Wednesday’s game, scoring one run in the seventh inning and two more in the eighth. However, they were ultimately stifled by Brewers closer Devin Williams, who returned from a lengthy injury absence earlier this season. Williams, who missed the first 104 games with a back injury, has been nearly flawless since his return, notching his sixth save in seven opportunities on Wednesday.

Game Implications

Thursday’s game is pivotal for both teams, albeit for different reasons. The Brewers are looking to solidify their position as one of the top seeds in the National League, currently sitting just 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the second overall seed. A win would not only secure a series victory but also keep the pressure on the Phillies in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs.

For the Giants, a win is essential to keep their fading postseason hopes alive. A victory would help them close the gap in the wild-card race and build some much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. However, their success will largely depend on Birdsong’s ability to rebound from his recent struggles and deliver a strong performance against a potent Brewers lineup.

Conclusion

As the Giants and Brewers prepare to clash in this high-stakes matchup, the outcome could have significant implications for the postseason landscape. The Brewers, with their eyes on a deep playoff run, will look to capitalize on their home-field advantage and secure the series win. Meanwhile, the Giants are fighting for their playoff lives, needing a win to stay within striking distance of a wild-card spot. With both teams bringing their best to the table, this game promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the series.