Athletics vs Giants Game Analysis

Rodon-Jefferies Pitching Matchup Highlights Interleague Series

Rivals Collide in Bay Bridge Series

A quick two-game series is on tap for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants, two franchises separated by 70 miles. However, the two teams couldn’t be more different as the Athletics vs Giants betting analysis perfectly illustrates.

The Giants have finished first or second in their division seven times in the last 11 seasons and are nipping at the heels of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Although Oakland qualified for the postseason in three of the last four seasons, fans are protesting the unwillingness of the hierarchy to keep the team’s best players. That was why the Oakland Coliseum was filled to just 32 percent capacity in the most recent home game.

Oakland is 5-5 on the road while the Giants are 4-2 at home entering the Bay Bridge Series.

The Athletics have managed two runs or less in five of the last six games while the Giants have outscored the opposition 28-8 during its current four-game winning streak. Looking at the numbers and with the Giants playing at home, it makes sense that in the Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants series, the home team is the one to beat.

Game Information

  • Team records: Athletics 9-8 (third in AL West), Giants 12-5 (second in the NL West)
  • Dates: Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. ET (teams also play on Wednesday at 9:45 p.m.)
  • Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco

 

Athletics vs Giants Probable Starting Pitchers

Tuesday: Daulton Jefferies (Athletics) vs. Carlos Rodon (Giants)
Wednesday: Paul Blackburn (Athletics) vs. TBA

Unlikely Duo Heads A’s rotation

Coming into the season, it appeared that Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas would be the 1-2 punch at the top of the Oakland Athletics starting rotation. However, Manaea became the latest Oakland star to be traded away rather than having the Athletics sign him to a lucrative extension.

Montas has been solid with a 2-2 record and 3.28 ERA. However, it has been Daulton Jefferies and Pete Blackburn who have been the most effective starters. With both of them set to pitch against San Francisco, that figures prominently into the Athletics vs Giants betting analysis.

Jefferies, the probable starter in Tuesday’s game, was selected out of the University of California with the 37th pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. He came into the season with a 1-2 record and 5.82 ERA in six career appearances. Jefferies has a 1.17 ERA. Unfortunately, Oakland has scored a total of five runs in his three starts so while he pitched well enough to be 3-0, he is just 1-2.

The 28-year-old Blackburn made his debut with the Athletics in 2017. Heading into the 2022 campaign, he had a 6-11 career record and 5.75 ERA in 30 appearances, including 27 starts. Blackburn, expected to get the ball in Wednesday’s contest, is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.80 and 14 strikeouts in 15 innings.

Rodon Makes Immediate Impact for Giants

Carlos Rodon entered the major leagues with plenty of hype in 2015 after being the third overall pick in the 2014 draft and becoming one of the first players from his draft class to make it to the big leagues. A 9-6 record in his rookie season only increased the expectations. However, he was just 20-27 in the next five seasons. Rodon began to figure things out in 2021, posting a 13-5 record with the Chicago White Sox, but they were unable to keep him and he signed as a free agent with the Giants.

It is proving to be one of the better offseason moves in MLB. Rodon pitching on Tuesday is a key part of the Athletics vs Giants betting analysis.

Rodon is fourth in the majors with 29 strikeouts and, with a solid start, he figures to retake the lead in strikeouts. He is 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA. In the one game where he didn’t figure in the decision, Rodon allowed three hits, one run and struck out 12 in five innings in a loss to Miami.

Rodon goes after his third win as he looks to continue the trend dominating starts in April. Since 2019, the 29-year-old lefty is 9-1 in 12 April starts with 99 strikeouts in 67.2 innings pitched.

Who’s Hot

Dany Jimenez, Athletics P: Jimenez hasn’t allowed a hit in two of his last four appearances. He has seven strikeouts and one walk in four innings over those four games.
Sean Murphy, Athletics C: Murphy is 5-for-16 over the last four games with three runs, two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
Joc Pederson, Giants OF: Pederson has three home runs in his last two games. He is 6-for-10 with four-extra base hits and six RBIs in his last three games.
Carlos Rodon, Giants P: Rodon has allowed five hits and one run over 12 innings in his last two starts. He has 17 strikeouts and four walks as he picked up his first two wins.

Who’s Not

Elvis Andrus, Athletics 1B: Andrus is 1-for-10 with five strikeouts in his last four games.
Adam Kolarek, Athletics P: Kolarek allowed three hits and three runs in one inning in his last outing.
Darin Ruf, Giants OF: Ruf is 1-for-10 with two strikeouts in his last games as his average dropped to .164.
Anthony DeSclafani, Giants P: DeSclafani allowed nine hits and five runs in his last start. He needed 83 pitches to get through five innings and suffered his first loss.

Injury Update

Oakland infielders Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder are both on the COVID-19 list. Both players haven’t played since April 17. Catcher Steven Vogt is on the 10-day injured list with a knee injury. Relievers A.J. Puk and Lou Trivino are also currently sidelined.

For San Francisco, starting pitchers Alex Cobb (groin) and Anthony DeSclafani (ankle) are on the 10-day injured list while Matthew Boyd (elbow) is on the 60-day injured list. Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski is on the COVID-19 list. Infielders Tommy La Stella (Achilles inflammation) and Evan Longoria (finger) as well as outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. (knee) could return in early May. It will be a longer wait for outfielder Steven Duggar to return after suffering an oblique strain that landed him on the 60-day injured list.

Athletics vs Giants Betting Guide

The Giants are fourth in baseball with 83 runs and 19 home runs. They are also in the top 10 in MLB with 10 stolen bases so San Francisco can put up runs in a variety of ways. The Giants’ bullpen ERA of 1.65 is the best in the majors.

Oakland’s relievers have been solid as well with a 2-1 record, 2.98 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched. Only three teams have struck out more times than Oakland’s 155. and the team’s batting average of .209 is the worst in the American League.

San Francisco has won five of the last seven games in the series, including two of the last three at home.

The run total of 6½ according to the Athletics vs Giants odds for Tuesday’s game is the lowest among the MLB games due to a much-anticipated pitching matchup. Five of the last eight games between the Athletics and Giants had six runs or less scored.

It should be noted that six of Oakland’s last eight games went under the total.

The Giants have won their last five games against American League teams.

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