San Francisco Giants vs Milwaukee Brewers Picks and Predictions September 12th 2024

Thursday’s matchup between the Brewers and Giants is set to get started at 9:45 PM ET from Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. The Brewers are currently 1st in the NL Central and have an overall record of 83-62, while the Giants are 4th in the NL West with a record of 72-74.

Milwaukee is currently favored on the money line, and the over/under line is at 7.5 runs. NBCS will be carrying this game on TV, and the forecast for Thursday calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Starting for the Brewers is Frankie Montas, while the Giants are set to go with Hayden Birdsong.

Milwaukee vs. San Francisco Key Information

• Teams: Brewers at Giants
• Where: Oracle Park San Francisco
• Date: Thursday, September 12th
• Betting Odds MIL -130 | SF +109 O/U 7.5

The Brewers Can Win If…

Right-hander Frankie Montas gets the start for the Brewers today as he faces the Giants on the road. He has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 6-10 with a 4.69 ERA. Montas’ WHIP for the season is 1.37, and he has turned in eight quality starts. In his last outing, Montas took the loss, giving up three earned runs in six innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts. Montas’ ERA on the road is 6.24 compared to 5.30 at home.

William Contreras is currently on a four-game hitting streak and is batting .281 for the season, which is the 2nd best mark on the Brewers. Willy Adames has been the team’s top power threat this season, as he is 11th in the league with 30 homers and is 4th in the MLB with 102 RBIs. However, he is batting just .252 for the season and has gone 9/39 in his last 10 games.

As a team, the Brewers are 6th in the league at 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5 runs per contest. Overall, they are one of the top home run-hitting teams in the league and have the 9th best team batting average in the MLB.

• The Brewers are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Brewers are 1-4 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 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Brewers have averaged 5.5 runs per game on offense

The Giants Can Win If…

Giants starter Hayden Birdsong has made 12 starts this year and has a record of 3-5. His ERA for the season is 5.19, along with a WHIP of 1.50. Opposing batters are hitting .217 off Birdsong this year. In his 12 starts, Birdsong has turned in just one quality start and is averaging 11.08 strikeouts per nine innings. Birdsong’s most recent outing came on September 4th, where he took the loss, giving up two earned runs in three innings of work. He has lost each of his last three outings.

For the season, the Giants are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. This is the same number of runs they are averaging at home and on the road. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 14th in the league, and they are also near the middle of the pack in terms of slugging percentage and OPS.

Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos have been the Giants’ top power threats this season, with Chapman leading the team with 24 homers and Ramos right behind him with 20. Chapman also leads the team with 73 RBIs. Over his last nine games, Mike Yastrzemski has four homers and is batting .250. Tyler Fitzgerald has gone 12/35 in his last nine games.

• The Giants are 4-6 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Giants are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• San Francisco has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Giants have an average of 5.8 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 San Francisco Giants aim to clinch a series win against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night at Oracle Park. With their outfield in the spotlight and Mike Yastrzemski powering the offense, the Giants are showcasing potential pieces for the future while keeping their eyes on the present.

Giants’ Outfield Showcases Power

Yastrzemski and Encarnacion Lead the Charge

The Giants’ offense exploded in Wednesday night’s 13-2 win over the Brewers, driven by standout performances from outfielders Mike Yastrzemski and Jerar Encarnacion. The duo combined for four hits, two home runs, and seven RBIs, bouncing back from a narrow 3-2 loss in the series opener. Yastrzemski’s hot bat continued as he hit his 15th homer of the season, while Encarnacion added his own power with a three-run shot.

In the series opener, Yastrzemski and fellow outfielder Heliot Ramos were responsible for both of the team’s runs, contributing two of the Giants’ four hits. As the team continues to shuffle through outfield options, these players are making their case for future roster spots.

Outfield Auditions for 2025

Evaluating Future Talent

The Giants (72-74) have experimented with their outfield all season, using 10 different left fielders, eight center fielders, and eight right fielders. With 2025 on the horizon, top prospects like Heliot Ramos and Luis Matos are getting significant playing time as the Giants evaluate their future core.

One of the key missing pieces is Jung Hoo Lee, the highly regarded South Korean outfielder who was expected to play a major role in center field this season. Unfortunately, Lee’s season was cut short by a shoulder injury in May, when he was hitting .262 in the leadoff spot. The Giants expect him to return healthy and ready for a starting role in 2025.

Despite the lack of consistency, the power potential is there. Ramos leads the team’s outfielders with 20 home runs, followed by Michael Conforto with 16, and Yastrzemski’s late-season surge has pushed him to 15 homers on the year.

Grant McCray, a top defensive outfield prospect with some pop, expressed excitement about the future: “Me and Jung Hoo. I don’t care who the other guy is.”

Brewers’ Frankie Montas Takes the Mound

Montas Finding His Groove

The Brewers (83-62) will turn to right-hander Frankie Montas (6-10, 4.69 ERA) for the series finale. Montas has been effective since joining Milwaukee midseason, posting a 3.92 ERA in seven starts. Known for his ability to refine his mechanics, Montas has been solid in his recent outings, contributing to Milwaukee’s push for a division title.

Montas has faced the Giants three times in his career, logging a 3.24 ERA over 16 2/3 innings, though he has yet to record a win or loss against them. Acquired from the Reds at the deadline, Montas has credited Brewers pitching coach Chris Hook with helping him regain form.

Giants’ Hayden Birdsong Seeks Bounce-Back Performance

Birdsong Struggling, But Hopeful

San Francisco will counter with rookie right-hander Hayden Birdsong (3-5, 5.19 ERA) as they aim to secure the series win. Birdsong has faced challenges in his recent starts, giving up seven runs over his last 6 2/3 innings. One of those rough outings came against Milwaukee last month when he allowed five runs in just 3 2/3 innings in a 6-0 loss.

Initially scheduled to start the series opener, Birdsong was pushed back to Thursday as the Giants hope he can find the form that made him a promising young arm. With the team evaluating key pieces for the future, a solid outing from Birdsong would not only help the Giants win the series but also boost his standing for next season.

What’s at Stake for Both Teams

Giants Continue to Build for the Future

While the Giants are hovering around .500 and unlikely to make the playoffs this season, their focus is on building a competitive team for 2025. Their outfield remains a work in progress, with players like Ramos, Matos, and Yastrzemski vying for future roles. With Jung Hoo Lee expected to return next season, San Francisco has a chance to develop a dynamic outfield core.

Brewers Eyeing Division Title

For the Brewers, this game is crucial as they continue to push for the NL Central title. With Frankie Montas pitching well, Milwaukee is looking to secure a series win and keep their momentum going toward the postseason. Montas’ performance will be critical as the Brewers prepare for what they hope will be a deep playoff run.

The Lean

Our lean for a money-line pick in this Brewers vs. Giants matchup is to take the Giants to come out on top at home. We also have this as our highest projected scoring game of the day and are leaning towards taking the over. The Giants offense is our highest projected in the league today in terms of runs scored, hits, and home runs. Hayden Birdsong has the 3rd best odds to pick up a win among today’s starters.