Young Pitchers Could Help Reds Shut Down The Visiting Giants
Giants vs Reds Preview Has Cincinnati Favored In Friday's Series Opener
Giants Look To Reverse Recent Road Woes At the Great American Ball Park
Both the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds enter August with some room to make up in their quest to reach the MLB playoffs. The weekend series could be crucial for both teams. The Giants vs Reds preview.
San Francisco won two of the three games when the teams met in May.
The last time the MLB teams met in Cincinnati, the teams split the four games, with 21 of the 21 of the 38 runs taking place in the second game of the series.
Since that MLB matchup, seven of the last eight games went under the total.
When looking at the MLB odds today have, the Reds priced at -118 to win the series opener and the Giants at +110 as the Giants have won just one of their last six series in Cincinnati.
- The Giants are priced at +15000 in the odds of winning the World Series, with the Reds at +25000 in the championship odds.
Giants vs Reds 
📊Records: San Francisco Giants 54-56 at Cincinnati Reds 52-56
⏰Day/Time: Friday, 7:10 p.m. ET; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. ET
📍Location: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
📺Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area
Giants vs Reds Probable Starting Pitchers
- Friday: Kyle Harrison (Giants); Andrew Abbott (Reds)
- Saturday: Blake Snell (Giants); Hunter Greene (Reds)
- Sunday: TBA (Giants); Carson Spiers (Reds)
Giants Look To Reverse Troubling Road Trend
Since winning three road games in a row (two against reigning World Series champion Texas) in July, the Giants are 6-14 away from home, as only the Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies have fewer road wins among National League teams than the Giants.
San Francisco has lost six of its last seven one-run games on the road, and that is one trend that the Giants are looking to change.
The Giants are in the middle of the pack in most offensive categories on the road.
However, only the Colorado Rockies have a higher team ERA on the road than the Giants, as opposing batters are hitting .268 against the Giants when San Francisco plays away from home. That could factor into the Giants vs Reds preview.
When considering free MLB picks, four of San Francisco’s last six games went under the total.
Reds Look To Deliver the Hits and the Steals
- The Cincinnati Reds were the only team with at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in July. It certainly helps when Elly De La Cruz steals 15 bases in 22 games.
The power is a little more spread out as Spencer Steer, rookie Rece Hinds, and Tyler Stephenson each hit five home runs in July, and De La Cruz and Will Benson had four home runs in the month.
That helped Cincinnati finish fifth in the majors and second in the National League in slugging percentage in July. Will that play a role in the Giants vs Reds preview?
Cincinnati had three home runs and eight stolen bases in the first three games of the season against the Giants, with seven different players having at least one stolen base.
The Reds have seen six of the last nine games go under the total.
Who’s Hot
- Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants 3B: Chapman is 11-for-28 with seven runs, four extra-base hits, and five RBIs in his last eight games.
- Sergio Espinal, Cincinnati Reds 3B: Espinal is batting .543 with seven runs and eight RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.
- Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds P: Greene has allowed 13 hits and two runs with 35 strikeouts in 31.2 innings over his last five starts.
- Erik Miller, San Francisco Giants P: Miller surrendered six hits and two runs with 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings in his last nine outings.
Who’s Not
- Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants C: Bailey is 6-for-32 with one extra-base hit and nine strikeouts in his last eight games.
- Fernando Cruz, Cincinnati Reds P: Cruz gave up 11 hits and eight runs with six walks in his last seven innings pitched.
- Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds 2B: India is 2-for-24 with five strikeouts in his last seven games.
- Tyler Rogers, San Francisco Giants P: Rogers has allowed seven hits, three home runs, and five runs in 4.1 innings during his last five appearances.
Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants odds, tips and betting trends | August 2 https://t.co/9TrVGdJNfo
— Andy Nelson (@USAsportsbookli) August 1, 2024
Giants vs Reds Injury Update
Relief pitcher Sean Hjelle is on the bereavement list, while pitchers Ryan Murphy and Thomas Szapucki are on the injured list for the Giants.
Infielders Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores are out, and that is an issue since the Giants traded out Jorge Soler.
For the Reds, pitchers Ian Gibault, Connor Overton, Emilio Pagan, and Brent Suter are on the injured list.
Giants vs Reds Betting Preview
The Reds probably preferred it when “to be announced” was showing up as probable starting pitchers in this series rather than having lefties Kyle Harrison and Blake Snell slated to start the first two games.
The Reds are 24th in the majors in slugging percentage against left-handed pitching and 23rd in OPS.
The Reds are going with some talented young pitchers. Few hurlers have been in a zone in recent starts more than Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene.
Andrew Abbott has failed in his previous three starts to become the first Reds pitcher with 10 wins this season, so he will try again.
- Speaking of pitchers, Greene is fifth at +3000 in the Cy Young odds, but he is well behind Atlanta’s Chris Sale, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler.
Five of the last seven times that the Giants played in Cincinnati, the game landed under the total. The total is at 9 for the series opener.
Rain is in the forecast around the time of the scheduled first pitch for the series opener. It could be more of the same on Saturday.
The Reds can move over the .500 mark at home with a sweep in this series. While the Giants should figure out a way to win at least one of the games, it is hard to roll with the Giants based on their track record when playing on the road this season.
However, the Giants are 28-26 against the run line on the road with 31 of those games landing over the total.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
