Giants vs Reds betting Preview: Pitching Favors Visiting Giants in Four-Game Series

Struggling Cincinnati Hopes to Snap a Four-Game Losing Streak

When the potential baseball playoff field was being discussed before the season, neither the San Francisco Giants nor the Cincinnati Reds were among the top contenders in the National League. When looking at the Giants vs Reds betting preview, both are in the running for the postseason.

The teams are heading in different directions coming into the series, with the Giants winning five games in a row. At the same time, Cincinnati just finished getting swept by division rival Milwaukee to fall out of first place in the National League Central Division.

These are two of the best road teams in the National League, with San Francisco 26-19 away from home and Cincinnati having a better mark on the road than at home.

When looking at baseball betting numbers, San Francisco (+2800) is tied for 10th in the odds to win the World Series, with Cincinnati (+4500) 17th in the championship odds.

Probable Pitching Matchups

• Monday: Logan Webb (Giants); Brandon Williamson (Reds)
• Tuesday: Anthony DeSclafani (Giants); Luke Weaver (Reds)
• Wednesday: Ross Stripling (Giants); Graham Ashcraft (Reds)
• Thursday: Alex Cobb (Giants); Andrew Abbott (Reds)

Remember Me?

The Giants are expected to bring DeSclafani off the injured list in time to start in the second game of this series.

The 33-year-old righty should feel right at home as he won 35 games in his five seasons pitching for the Reds.

Since arriving in San Francisco, he has pitched in Cincinnati just once, and in that 2021 outing, he allowed six hits and one run with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

DeSclafani was 14-11 at home in his final three seasons pitching for the Reds. It remains to be seen how his return will impact the Giants vs Reds betting preview.

The total has gone under in six of San Francisco’s last eight games.

Coming Up Empty

Just when the youngsters on the Cincinnati roster led the Reds into playoff position, it all got away from them.

During a four-game losing streak, all against NL Central rival Milwaukee, the Reds were 0-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Considering those numbers, it is not a surprise that the Giants vs Reds betting preview lists Cincinnati as the underdog in the series opener.

In the first three games, Cincinnati was 7-for-87 with 44 strikeouts as the Reds were shut out in each contest.

Veteran Joey Votto ended the shutout streak with an RBI double in the second inning of Sunday’s 4-3 loss. Jake Fraley added a two-run home run.

Four of Cincinnati’s last five games finished under the total.

Who’s Hot

• Alex Cobb, San Francisco Giants P: Cobb has allowed one hit with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings in his last two starts.
• Michael Conforto, San Francisco Giants: Conforto is 9-20 with seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.
• Ian Gibault, Cincinnati Reds P: Gibault has allowed five hits and no runs with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings in his last four appearances.
• Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds 1B: Seven of Votto’s last 10 hits have been for extra bases, as he has three doubles and four home runs in his previous nine games.

Who’s Not

• Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants SS: Crawford has three hits in his last 26 at-bats as his batting average has dropped from .221 to .205.
• Anthony DeSclafani, San Francisco Giants P: DeSclafani is 0-4 with a 7.27 ERA over his last six games, and he has surrendered five home runs in his previous five outings.
• TJ Friedl, Cincinnati Reds OF: Friedl is 3-for-18 with six strikeouts in his last six games.
• Luke Weaver, Cincinnati Reds P: Weaver has a 9.40 ERA since the start of June, with at least five runs allowed in four of his last six outings.

Giants vs Reds Injury Update

The Giants are hoping to get outfielder Heliot Ramos back before the end of July, while the timeline is a little longer for outfielders Mitch Haniger and Luis Gonzalez, as well as infielder Thairo Estrada.

Pitchers Tejay Antone, Vladimir Gutierrez and Reiver Sanmartin could return for Cincinnati by the end of July.

Giants vs Reds Betting Preview

The teams could be saving their best for last, with Alex Cobb set to pitch for the Giants in the series finale and Cincinnati rookie Andrew Abbott planning to get the ball for the Reds. Keep that in mind when it comes to making MLB score predictions.

There could be some runs being scored in the first three games of the series based on the pitching matchups.

With Logan Webb pitching for the Giants in the opener, San Francisco is priced at -142 to win on Monday, with the total set at 10 runs juiced to the over at -120.. San Francisco is 26-21 when listed as the favorite with Cincinnati 32-34 as an underdog.

Since the start of the 2022 season, Cincinnati is 4-2 against the Giants. Three of the last four games between the teams finished over the total with the road team winning three of those contests.

The Giants are 25-20 against the spread on the road with Cincinnati covering in 27 of 47 home games.

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