San Francisco Giants vs Miami Marlins Picks and Predictions August 31st 2024

Edward Cabrera is starting for the Marlins on Saturday, and he is facing off against Mason Black and the Giants. The money line odds have the Giants at -137 compared to the Marlins at +115. This game is being played at Oracle Park in San Francisco, and the forecast is for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60s.

The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and first pitch is set for 9:05 PM ET. BSFL will be televising this NL matchup. The Marlins are 49-86, while the Giants are at .500, and they are 4th in the NL West. Miami is 5th in the NL East.

Miami is sending Edward Cabrera to the mound today vs. the Giants, and he comes in with a record of 2-6 and an ERA of 5.60. So far, he has made 15 starts and 15 appearances. Cabrera’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.47. In his 15 starts, he has turned in three quality starts and is averaging 10.32 strikeouts per nine innings. The last time he pitched, Cabrera gave up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. He took the loss in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least six earned runs in three straight starts.

Currently, the Marlins are the worst scoring team in the league, averaging just 3.8 runs per game. This number drops to 3.4 runs per game when they are on the road. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 13th in the league, but their on-base percentage of .296 and OPS of .669 are both near the bottom of the league.

Jake Burger has been the Marlins’ top power threat this season, as his 25 homers are 1st on the team and 11th in the league. Burger also leads the team with 59 RBIs and comes into the game on a six-game hitting streak. Over his last seven games, Derek Hill has three homers but is hitting just .231.

Mason Black is set to make his third start of the season for the Giants, and he’ll be facing the Marlins at home. Black has yet to pick up a win in his first two outings, and he’s coming off a start in which he went 2 2/3 innings and gave up 4 runs to the Pirates. He has 10 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings of work this season.

So far this season, the Giants offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 18th in the majors. They are also 17th in home runs and have a team batting average of .240, which is 13th in the league. San Francisco’s offense is also 15th in on-base percentage and 16th in slugging.

Heading into today’s game, Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos have been the Giants’ top power threats, as Chapman leads the team with 21 homers, and Ramos is right behind him with 20. Chapman also leads the team with 67 RBIs, while Ramos is 2nd with 65. Over his last eight games, Ramos is batting .258, and he has also gone deep twice during this stretch.

The San Francisco Giants are banking on their farm system to keep their postseason dreams alive. After securing a 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night, the Giants will send rookie right-hander Mason Black to the mound for Saturday night’s game at Oracle Park.

Giants’ Situation and Black’s Return

With time running out in their wild-card chase, the Giants kicked off a critical six-game homestand with a much-needed win. The highlight of Friday’s game came in the eighth inning when Matt Chapman delivered a clutch three-run double, lifting San Francisco to victory after they struggled against Marlins pitcher Adam Oller, who had shut them out over six innings in just his third start of the season.

Mason Black (0-1, 8.79 ERA) will be taking the mound for the Giants on Saturday, hoping to build on the team’s momentum. Black’s experience in the majors this season has been limited, with just 14 1/3 innings pitched over four appearances, including three starts. His last big-league outing, back on May 23 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, was a rough one, where he allowed four runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Following that game, he was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento, where he managed a 5-6 record with a 4.59 ERA over 20 starts.

Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed hope that Friday’s win could be the spark they need for a late-season surge.

Marlins Counter with Edward Cabrera

The Marlins will counter with right-hander Edward Cabrera (2-6, 5.60 ERA), who’s been struggling lately, giving up 12 runs in 15 1/3 innings over his last three starts. Despite his recent challenges, Cabrera had one of his best outings of the season against the Giants back in April, striking out 10 and allowing just one run over six innings in a game Miami eventually lost 4-3.

Cabrera has faced the Giants only twice in his career, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. However, Saturday’s start will be his first appearance at Oracle Park, adding a new level of pressure.

Kyle Stowers Emerging as Key Contributor for Miami

A player to watch for the Marlins is outfielder Kyle Stowers, who joined the team from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline. Stowers didn’t start in Friday’s series opener against lefty Blake Snell but is expected to be in the lineup against right-hander Mason Black. Stowers has been on a tear recently, with nine hits in his last five games, including a standout performance on Thursday in Colorado where he logged a double, two singles, and drove in four runs.

Stowers reflected on his early struggles after joining the Marlins, where he went just 8-for-63 (.127) before his recent hot streak.

Match Outlook

Saturday’s game is pivotal for both teams, with the Giants looking to keep their playoff hopes alive and the Marlins eager to play spoiler. Mason Black’s performance will be crucial as he attempts to bring stability to a Giants pitching staff that has been hit or miss. Meanwhile, Edward Cabrera will be looking to recapture his early-season form against a Giants lineup that seems to be finding its groove.

As the stakes get higher, both teams will need to bring their best in what’s shaping up to be a closely fought battle.

For a money-line pick, our lean would be to take the Giants to come out on top at home. We also have this as the 4th highest-scoring game of the day and the 2nd highest home run total. As for an over/under pick, we would lean towards the over. The Giants have the best home run projection in the league today, and Mason Black has the highest strikeout projection among today’s starters.