Guardians vs Giants Betting Preview: It’s Now or Never for San Fran in Playoff Race
Giants Begin Monday 1.5 Games Out of National League Wild Card
Still on the outside looking in of the National League playoffs, the San Francisco Giants will open a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians, starting Monday. San Francisco is -1.5 (+150) on the run line and -140 to win outright in the opener, with Cleveland priced at +125. The projected total is 7.5 (-120 Over, EV Under).
Additionally, San Francisco is favored -165 to win the series. Cleveland is +130.
Read on as we break down both clubs in our Guardians vs Giants betting preview.
Guardians vs Giants 
Date & Time:
Location: Oracle Park
San Fran Still Clinging to Hope
While the National League West is out of reach, the San Francisco Giants are still firmly in the mix for a wild card berth. At 73-70, San Francisco began Monday just 1.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (75-69) for the third and final spot, with only the Miami Marlins (74-69) standing between the two clubs.
Do the Giants have what it takes to make the baseball playoffs? Oddsmakers aren’t so sure, pricing them +275 to qualify. But the Giants certainly have a prime opportunity ahead, with seven consecutive games against sub-.500 teams before visiting Arizona for a two-game set next week.
After opening September with six consecutive losses, the Giants responded by sweeping a three-game set from the last-place Colorado Rockies at home. The Giants are a solid 41-31 at Oracle Park, and with three more games in their building, they’d be wise to take care of business.
However, the offense remains a concern for San Francisco. The club ranks tied for 20th in runs (618), 19th in home runs (157), and 23rd in batting average (.240). Keep that in mind when assessing the odds in our Guardians vs Giants betting preview.
Guardians Fading Fast
The Cleveland Guardians’ last-ditch effort to make the playoffs appears to be for naught. At 68-76, the Guardians are 7.5 games back of the MLB AL Central standings and 11.5 out of the wild card. As such, the Guardians are now off the board for the postseason.
Lucas Giolito, acquired off waivers on Aug. 31, has lost both his starts with Cleveland. He’s been walloped for 13 runs (six home runs) in 10 innings. Cleveland’s other late-season acquisitions, Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez, haven’t helped much either. With six losses over their last eight games, the Guardians’ fate is all but sealed.
Cleveland’s biggest issue has been run production or lack thereof. The Guardians rank 28th in runs (579) and are dead last in home runs (109). They’ve hit 21 fewer homers than the next-closest team, the Washington Nationals. Remarkably, only four Guardians have hit double-digit homers: Jose Ramirez (22), Josh Naylor (16), Andres Gimenez (12) and Josh Bell (11). That could affect the odds in our Guardians vs Giants betting preview.
Odds Outlook
San Francisco is 68-75 against the run line, including 36-36 at home. Cleveland has fared only slightly better, going 72-72 ATS, including 38-34 on the road. Notably, Cleveland (58.9%) and San Francisco (56.4%) have gone under the projected total more often than anyone in MLB besides the New York Mets (58.4%). That’s important to remember when making MLB predictions.
âš¾ Game 1 âš¾
Alex Cobb vs Gavin Williams
Monday, 9:45 p.m. ET
A first-time All-Star, Cobb is 7-6 with a 3.74 ERA. The 35-year-old right-hander will be starting on seven days rest after having his last start pushed back due to a left hip impingement, for which he required a cortisone shot. He faces Williams, who holds a solid 3.34 ERA in 14 starts as a rookie. Williams, 24, has struck out 72 in 70 innings and has allowed just three home runs over his last 53 innings.
âš¾ Game 2 âš¾
Sean Manaea vs Cal Quantrill
Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. ET
Manaea has been used mostly as an opener. The left-hander has made 33 appearances (six starts), none since July lasting more than four innings. He’s 5-5 with a 5.00 ERA. The Guardians will counter with Quantrill, who is 2-6 with a 5.70 ERA. He’s been much better in September, with only two runs allowed over his last 12 innings.
âš¾ Game 3 âš¾
Kyle Harrison vs Logan Allen
Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. ET
Harrison, San Francisco’s No. 1 rated prospect, owns a 4.87 ERA over his first four MLB starts. He’s displayed strong swing-and-miss stuff, with 26 strikeouts in 20.1 innings. Allen, meanwhile, is 7-7 with a 3.68 ERA.
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