San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions September 4th 2024

D-backs hope stellar version of Zac Gallen shows up to face Giants

At 9:45 PM ET, the Diamondbacks and Giants face off in an NL West matchup. This one is being played at Oracle Park in San Francisco, and the Diamondbacks are the slight road favorites, with their money line odds sitting at -141 compared to the Giants at +120. The over/under line is currently 7.5 runs.

Arizona will be looking to pick up another win and further solidify their playoff chances, as they are 3rd in the NL West with a record of 78-61. The Giants are 4th in the division and have lost three straight. Wednesday’s forecast in San Francisco calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s. Zac Gallen is starting for the Diamondbacks, while the Giants are going with Hayden Birdsong.

Arizona vs. San Francisco Key Information

• Teams: Diamondbacks at Giants
• Where: Oracle Park San Francisco
• Date: Wednesday, September 4th
• Betting Odds ARI -141 | SF +120 O/U 7.5

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Zac Gallen will be looking to bounce back from his last outing, where he gave up five earned runs in five innings of work vs. the Dodgers. In that outing, he gave up two homers. Against the Giants today, Gallen will look to pitch more like he did on August 24th vs. the Red Sox, where he pitched six scoreless innings and got the win. Gallen’s overall record for the season is 10-6, and he has an ERA of 3.87 to go along with a WHIP of 1.31. For the year, he has made 23 starts, and opponents are batting .242 vs. Gallen this year.

Arizona’s offense has been the best in the league so far, averaging 5.4 runs per game. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.6 runs per contest. The Diamondbacks are also the top on-base percentage team in the league and have the best OPS in the MLB. As a team, they are batting .263, which is the 2nd best mark in the league.

Corbin Carroll has been on a tear for the Diamondbacks, going 13/33 in his last eight games with five homers and 12 RBIs. For the season, Ketel Marte leads the team with 30 homers, and Eugenio Suarez is the team’s top run producer, with 86 RBIs.

• The Diamondbacks are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 8-2 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 8.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Diamondbacks are 7-3
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 6.5 runs per game on offense

The Giants Can Win If…

Giants starter Hayden Birdsong will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Brewers, where he gave up five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. In that outing, he also gave up four walks and a homer. Birdsong has a record of 3-4 this season and an ERA of 5.14. Looking at his overall numbers, opponents are batting .217 this season, and he has a BB/9 figure of 5.51 compared to 11.02 strikeouts per nine innings. Birdsong has made 11 appearances this season and just one of them was a quality start.

The Giants offense has been pretty average this season, as they are 17th in the league in scoring at 4.3 runs per game. San Francisco’s batting average of .240 is 15th in the league, and they are also just 18th in home runs. However, they do have two of the league’s top home run hitters in Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos, who have 22 and 20 homers, respectively.

Chapman has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 9/29 in his last eight games with two homers and six RBIs. He also comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak. Mike Yastrzemski has three homers in his last seven games but is batting just .240 in that stretch.

• The Giants are 3-7 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 5-3-2 in their last ten games.
• The Giants have an average of 3.6 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 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Giants have averaged 4.0 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 6th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. As for a winner, we are leaning towards the Giants to come out on top. Hayden Birdsong has the 4th best chance to pick up a win among today’s starters, and he is also 9th in our projections in terms of strikeouts.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are relying on ace Zac Gallen to return to his dominant form as they continue their pursuit of a National League (NL) wild-card playoff spot. As the Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants in the second game of a crucial three-game series Wednesday night, every win matters in this tight playoff race. Arizona is hoping Gallen can help solidify their position as the postseason looms.

Diamondbacks Fighting for Wild-Card Position

Currently holding the second NL wild-card spot with a 78-61 record, the Diamondbacks find themselves in a highly competitive race for the postseason. Tuesday’s narrow 8-7 victory over the Giants allowed Arizona to maintain momentum, gaining a half-game on the wild-card-leading San Diego Padres (79-61), who were idle. The win also extended their lead over other contenders, as they fight to maintain this fragile advantage.

Despite nearly blowing a five-run lead in Tuesday’s series opener, the Diamondbacks showed resilience, an attribute they will need in the coming games. As Arizona looks to close out the season strong, Gallen’s performance on the mound becomes a pivotal factor in their playoff hopes.

Zac Gallen’s Rollercoaster Performances

Zac Gallen (10-6, 3.87 ERA) has been one of the Diamondbacks’ top pitchers, but his recent inconsistency has raised concerns. Over his last nine starts, Gallen has alternated between stellar and subpar outings. In five starts during this stretch, he has struggled, surrendering 24 runs (23 earned) over 26 2/3 innings. However, in four other outings, he has been lights out, allowing just two earned runs across 21 1/3 innings.

Most recently, Gallen was hit hard by the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up five runs in five innings during a 10-9 loss. Arizona’s playoff run will likely depend on whether the ace can find his dominant form again and deliver a quality performance against the Giants.

Manager Torey Lovullo, however, remains confident in his pitching staff. “I believe in our staff. I trust our guys to perform when it matters most,” Lovullo said, signaling faith that Gallen and his fellow starters can deliver in high-stakes games.

Gallen’s History vs. Giants

Gallen will face a San Francisco team that has given him trouble in the past. Earlier this season in April, Gallen allowed five runs in five innings in a 7-3 loss to the Giants. Over his career, he holds a 4-5 record with a 4.44 ERA in 14 starts against San Francisco.

Given the high stakes of Wednesday’s game, Gallen’s ability to handle the Giants’ lineup will be critical. The Diamondbacks need him at his best to stay in control of their playoff destiny.

Giants Turning to Youth as Playoff Hopes Fade

At 68-71, the Giants remain mathematically in the wild-card race, but their chances are dwindling. They now sit 7.5 games behind the final playoff spot, with multiple teams ahead of them. As a result, San Francisco is shifting its focus toward evaluating younger players for the future.

In Tuesday’s loss, the Giants fielded a youthful lineup that included prospects Marco Luciano and Luis Matos. Luciano delivered in a key moment, hitting a two-out single in the eighth inning to bring San Francisco within one run. However, Matos struck out to end the inning, and the comeback attempt fell short.

Giants manager Bob Melvin explained the reasoning behind giving his prospects more opportunities in games with playoff implications: “They’re here for a reason now, so they’re going to get some at-bats.” Melvin also indicated that the Giants are beginning to look toward next season. “We’re looking toward next year and what the roster construction’s going to look like then. These are some of our best prospects, and they’re going to get a bit of a look right now.”

Giants’ Rookie Starter Hayden Birdsong

The Giants will send rookie right-hander Hayden Birdsong (3-4, 5.14 ERA) to the mound for the second game of the series. Birdsong, a 23-year-old prospect, has struggled in August, going winless in five starts with an 0-4 record and an 8.68 ERA. The Giants lost all five of those games, highlighting the growing pains associated with developing young talent at the major league level.

Birdsong will be facing the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career, and Arizona’s offense will look to capitalize on his inexperience. The Diamondbacks will need a strong performance at the plate to support Gallen, especially with their playoff aspirations on the line.

Urgency for the Diamondbacks

Arizona is feeling the pressure of the postseason push. Every game is critical as they try to hold off teams like the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, and Cincinnati Reds, all of whom are vying for a Wild Card spot. Gallen’s performance in Wednesday’s game will not only affect this series but could have lasting consequences on the Diamondbacks’ playoff positioning.

With the Giants fielding a lineup mixed with young prospects and struggling veterans, Arizona has a prime opportunity to notch another important victory. However, they must rely on both Gallen and their bullpen to deliver strong performances in this pivotal matchup.

Conclusion: Gallen’s Performance is Key

As the Diamondbacks continue their playoff push, the importance of Zac Gallen’s start against the Giants cannot be overstated. His recent inconsistency has left questions about his ability to dominate when it matters most, but Arizona is banking on their ace to rise to the occasion. If Gallen can rediscover his All-Star form, the Diamondbacks will be in a strong position to maintain their wild-card spot.

On the other side, the Giants are using this series to develop young talent like Luciano and Matos, who are gaining valuable experience in games that still hold playoff implications. While San Francisco’s hopes are fading, the Giants can still play spoiler as Arizona fights to secure its postseason fate.

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