San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants Picks and Predictions September 6th 2024

San Francisco and San Diego are facing off in an NL West matchup at 9:40 PM ET at PETCO Park in San Diego, CA. The Giants are 69-72 this season, while the Padres have the second-best record in the NL West of 80-62.

Michael King is starting for the Padres, while the Giants are going with Mason Black. San Diego is the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -215 compared to the Giants at +180. The over/under line is currently at 7.5 runs, and APLTV is carrying this game on TV.

Mason Black and the Giants are on the road to take on the Padres. Black has started 3 games this season, and in his most recent outing, he took a loss vs. the Marlins. He went 5 innings, giving up 2 earned runs and struck out 6. Black has yet to pick up a win this season, as he has a no-decision in each of his first two starts.

So far this season, the Giants are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 17th in the league. They have been pretty consistent, averaging 4.3 runs per game both at home and on the road. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 15th in the league. San Francisco’s offense has been led by Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos, who have 22 and 20 home runs, respectively.

Over his last eight games, Mike Yastrzemski has gone 6/26 with three home runs and seven runs scored. Tyler Fitzgerald is currently on a five-game hitting streak and has gone 11/35 over his last nine games. During this stretch, he has scored five runs.

Right-hander Michael King gets the start for the Padres today as he faces the Giants at home. King has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 11-8 with a 3.17 ERA. In his 27 total appearances, he has turned in 12 quality starts and is averaging 10.57 strikeouts per nine innings. King’s last outing came on August 29th, where he took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits. Before that, he had won three straight starts. So far, he has been much better at home, coming in with a record of 3-5 and a 3.66 ERA compared to 8-3 with a 3.36 ERA on the road.

Heading into today’s game, the Padres are the top-hitting team in the league, with a team batting average of .264. They are also the top home run hitting team in the league and are averaging 4.8 runs per game. San Diego’s offense has been even better on the road, averaging 5.1 runs per contest.

Over his last eight games, Jackson Merrill has gone 9/31 with three homers and seven RBIs, while Luis Arraez has gone 12/29 in his last seven games. For the season, Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar are tied for 2nd on the team with 22 homers, with Machado leading the team with 86 RBIs.

Padres Look to Regroup After Crushing Loss as Giants Come to Town

The San Diego Padres are looking to shake off a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers as they prepare to host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. The Padres, just one out away from securing a series sweep, saw their hopes dashed by a two-strike grand slam from Parker Meadows off closer Robert Suarez, a hit that turned the game and dampened their playoff momentum.

Padres’ Playoff Push

Despite Thursday’s setback, the Padres (80-62) are still in a strong position for the postseason, currently holding a half-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first National League wild-card spot. However, the missed opportunity against Detroit stings as San Diego failed to gain ground on the NL West-leading Dodgers, who now sit five games ahead with just 20 games left in the regular season.

Manager Mike Shildt is keeping the team focused on their steady play, despite the tough loss. “We just play the game the right way every day. That’s what we do. So we’ll be just fine,” Shildt said, looking to keep the team’s spirits high as they head into a critical stretch of games.

Michael King Takes the Mound for Padres

San Diego will look to right-hander Michael King (11-8, 3.17 ERA) to get them back on track. King has struggled in his last two starts, including a 4-1 loss to the Cardinals where he allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks. However, King has performed well against the Giants this season, going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts, including a dominant seven shutout innings in San Francisco back in April.

With Yu Darvish returning from the injured list, King has had extra rest and feels physically refreshed. “I actually feel very good,” King said. “I don’t know if it’s because of stints like this where I got eight days off… but I’ve been feeling great.” San Diego will need King at his best as they aim to maintain their wild-card lead.

Giants Play Spoiler

Though the Giants (69-72) have fallen out of playoff contention, they remain a dangerous team capable of playing spoiler. San Francisco helped San Diego’s wild-card chances on Thursday by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2, courtesy of a walk-off double from Patrick Bailey. Despite struggling offensively over the past month, Bailey came through with all three RBIs, including the game-winner.

Mason Black Starts for Giants

Rookie right-hander Mason Black (0-2, 7.45 ERA) gets the start for San Francisco. Black is coming off his best outing of the season, allowing just two runs over five innings in a 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins. This will be his first career start against the Padres, and he’ll be tasked with giving the Giants some length after their bullpen was heavily taxed in Thursday’s extra-inning game.

San Francisco’s bullpen could use a break, as Blake Snell lasted just one inning in his start against Arizona, forcing the Giants to rely on eight innings of relief. Black will need to step up and provide some relief for the overworked bullpen.

Season Series Overview

San Francisco holds a slight edge over San Diego in the season series, with a 4-3 advantage. The teams split four games earlier this season at Petco Park in the opening series, but the Padres are now fighting for much more as they push for the playoffs.

Key Matchup

This series opener will be crucial for both teams, but especially for the Padres as they look to regain momentum in their playoff push. With Michael King back on the mound and fresh after extra rest, San Diego has a solid chance to take advantage of a Giants team that’s been inconsistent and whose bullpen is fatigued. The Padres will need to find their winning form again, and King will be central to that effort.

There should be no shortage of offense in today’s Giants and Padres matchup, and not only are we leaning towards the Giants picking up the win, but we are also leaning towards taking the over. The Giants have our 3rd highest projected home run total, and Mason Black has the highest strikeout projection among today’s starters.