San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Predictions September 11th 2024

Starters hope for bigger workload as Brewers visit Giants

Wednesday’s matchup between the Brewers and Giants has a first pitch set for 9:45 PM ET from Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. Milwaukee is currently 1st in the NL Central with a record of 83-61, while the Giants are 4th in the NL West at 71-74.

The money line odds have the Giants as the favorite at -147, while the Brewers are sitting at +125. The over/under line is at 7 runs, and the forecast for the game is clear skies and temperatures in the mid to upper 60s. Blake Snell is starting for the Giants, and the Brewers are going with Colin Rea.

Milwaukee vs. San Francisco Key Information

• Teams: Brewers at Giants
• Where: Oracle Park San Francisco
• Date: Wednesday, September 11th
• Betting Odds SF -147 | MIL +125 O/U 7

The Brewers Can Win If…

Right-hander Colin Rea gets the start for the Brewers today as he faces the Giants on the road. He has made 24 starts this season and has a record of 12-4 with an ERA of 3.72. Rea’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.17. Looking at his overall numbers, Rea has turned in eight quality starts, and opponents are batting .232 off him this year. In his last outing, Rea finished with a no-decision, giving up two earned runs in four innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

William Contreras has been swinging a hot bat of late for the Brewers, going 6/16 in his last five games with three RBIs. He is also on a three-game hitting streak. Contreras is batting .281 for the season and is 3rd on the team with 21 homers. Willy Adames is also near the top of the Brewers’ home run leaderboard, as his 30 homers are 1st in the league and 3rd in the MLB. Adames has driven in 102 runs, which is also 3rd in the league.

As a team, the Brewers are 6th in the league in scoring at 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are batting .250 (7th) and have the 4th best on-base percentage in the league. Milwaukee is also one of the best teams in terms of working the count, as they are 2nd in the league in walks.

• The Brewers are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Brewers are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Milwaukee has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Brewers have an average of 2.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Brewers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Brewers last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Milwaukee has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Brewers have averaged 5.9 runs per game on offense

The Giants Can Win If…

Blake Snell gets the start for the Giants today and will be looking to get back on track after a rough outing vs. the Diamondbacks. In that September 5th start, he went just one inning, giving up one earned run, two hits, and two walks. Snell finished with a no-decision in the outing. Looking back further, he has finished with a no-decision in each of his last four outings. Snell’s ERA for the season is 3.62, along with a record of 2-3. Opponents are batting .173 off Snell this season. He has one complete game shutout and eight quality starts this year.

San Francisco’s offense has been pretty consistent this season, as they are averaging 4.3 runs per game both at home and on the road. Overall, they are 18th in the league in scoring. The Giants have been led by Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos in terms of home runs, as Chapman has 23 homers this season, and Ramos is right behind him with 20. Chapman also leads the team with 72 RBIs.

Chapman has been swinging the bat well of late, going 8/25 in his last seven games with two homers. He is also on a five-game hitting streak. Heliot Ramos is also on a five-game hitting streak, and he has gone 4/20 in his last seven games.

• The Giants are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Giants are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• San Francisco has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Giants have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Giants are 5-5
• Looking back across the Giants last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• San Francisco has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Giants have averaged 3.8 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Looking at who we are leaning on taking for a money line pick in this Brewers vs. Giants matchup, we like the Giants to come out on top. We also are leaning towards taking the over, as this is projected to be the 3rd highest-scoring game of the day. The Giants have the 2nd best team hits projection and the highest team strikeout projection. On the other side, Colin Rea has the 4th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.

The Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants are set for a key pitching showdown Wednesday night as the Brewers (83-61) seek to extend their dominance over the Giants (71-74) in the second game of their three-game series at Oracle Park. After a tightly contested 3-2 Brewers victory in the series opener, both teams will turn to their starting pitchers, Colin Rea for the Brewers and Blake Snell for the Giants, hoping for bigger workloads and more consistent performances.

Colin Rea Looks to Overcome Recent Struggles

Colin Rea (12-4, 3.72 ERA) has been a solid contributor for the Brewers this season, boasting a strong win-loss record and steady performances across 27 appearances, including 24 starts. Milwaukee has gone 19-8 in games where Rea has pitched, indicating his reliability on the mound. However, in his last two outings, Rea has been limited to just four innings each, allowing a combined six runs (five earned) and 10 hits against the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. These shortened appearances have raised questions about his current form.

Rea will be making his fourth career start against the Giants, holding a 1-2 record with a 5.29 ERA in the previous three meetings. He will be facing a San Francisco team that has struggled to score runs at home, dropping 10 of their last 15 home games and scoring four or fewer runs in 10 of those contests. Despite this offensive slump, the Giants are known for being opportunistic, and Rea will need to find his rhythm early to avoid letting them capitalize.

Blake Snell Aims for Redemption After Short Outing

Blake Snell (2-3, 3.62 ERA), the two-time Cy Young Award winner, enters Wednesday’s game with something to prove. His last outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks was cut short after just one inning, where he threw 42 pitches and allowed two runs (one earned). Snell admitted that the decision to pull him was correct, saying, “Just too many pitches. It’s not smart to go back out. I’ve done it before, but I’ve never felt good after. It’s a lot of risk and not a lot of reward.”

Despite his shaky recent performances, Snell has been a key player for the Giants, with San Francisco winning four straight games when he takes the mound. However, Snell has yet to secure a win since August 7 and will be highly motivated to turn things around against a Brewers team he has struggled with historically. In his two career starts against Milwaukee, Snell is 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA, making Wednesday’s game a potential opportunity for redemption.

Brewers Continue Their Surge Toward Playoffs

The Brewers have been in strong form as they push toward securing a playoff berth, having won three of four matchups against the Giants this season. Tuesday’s 3-2 victory was a testament to their well-rounded play, with Aaron Civale and three relievers combining to hold the Giants to just four hits. Milwaukee’s pitching has been one of the best in the league, and with their offense performing efficiently, they have emerged as a serious postseason contender.

One player the Giants haven’t yet faced is Brewers rookie outfielder Isaac Collins, who made his major-league debut on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Collins picked up his first big-league hit in that game and brings a fresh energy to the Brewers lineup. Though he didn’t play in the series opener on Tuesday, Collins may get his chance to contribute as the series continues.

Giants Struggling to Find Momentum at Home

The Giants, on the other hand, are desperate for a turnaround. Their recent stretch of home games has been disappointing, with the team losing 10 of their last 15 games at Oracle Park. Offensive struggles have been a key issue, as the team has failed to consistently produce runs. Snell will need to deliver a strong outing to give San Francisco a chance to level the series, but the Giants’ bats must also come alive to support him.

Despite the Giants’ challenges, they remain a team capable of grinding out wins, especially in close games. They proved this by winning 3-2 in Snell’s last start against the Diamondbacks, despite his early exit. If their bullpen continues to perform at a high level, the Giants could keep this series competitive.

Key Factors to Watch

• Pitching Workload: Both Rea and Snell will be looking to extend their innings after recent short outings. For the Brewers, Rea needs to prove he can return to form, while Snell must find consistency early to avoid another high pitch count.
• Offensive Efficiency: The Brewers have found ways to score runs when needed, but San Francisco’s offense has been inconsistent. Whichever team can break through first will have the advantage, especially in a low-scoring environment.
• Home Field Advantage?: While Oracle Park should be an advantage for the Giants, their struggles at home raise doubts. They must shake off their offensive slump and take advantage of their opportunities against Rea.

Final Thoughts

With the Brewers looking to extend their strong season and the Giants searching for a much-needed spark, Wednesday’s game holds significant importance for both teams. Colin Rea and Blake Snell have had mixed results recently, and their performances will likely dictate the outcome of this pivotal contest. The Brewers hold the upper hand with recent success, but the Giants, with Snell on the mound, are not to be underestimated, especially in front of their home crowd.

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