MLB Tuesday Preview – San Diego vs San Francisco – 10:05 PM
Before baseball gambling fans turn their attention to other sports betting events this weekend, we have the Saturday MLB game of the day pick for you. It’s time for our weekly baseball picks for online MLB betting action.
Season Record:
San Diego: 19-12 SU
San Francisco: 18-12 SU
First Place At Stake In NL West
There were plenty of experts who picked the Giants to be tops in NL West in May. There weren’t many (read: zero) who said the San Diego Padres would be right up there with them. But one month into the season, the Padres are not only first in the NL West, but share similar (if not better) records with NL powerhouses Philadelphia and St. Louis. A couple of weeks ago, the Padres welcomed the Giants to San Diego for a three-game series, and thusly swept them out of Southern California. Now the Pads travel north to take on a San Francisco squad that sits just half a game out of first, and are coming off a come-from behind win against the New York Mets on Sunday.
Neither team has been amazing offensively so far this season, but lack of consistent hitting has been irrelevant to both teams success. People who bet on MLB know the Giants and the Padres are where they are because of outstanding pitching, as each rank in the top-five of team ERA (San Diego is second, while San Fran is fourth). This series is going to be great pitching and low scoring: nothing new in the NL West.
MLB Betting: San Diego Padres @ San Francisco Giants
Wade LeBlanc (2-0) v. Barry Zito (5-0)
LeBlanc vs Giants Hitting
Wade LeBlanc didn’t start the season in the majors, but he’s making sure he’s not going back to the minors anytime soon. In four starts this season, LeBlanc is 2-0 with a 1.16 ERA, 20 strikeouts and only six walks. Within that span, LeBlanc pitched 20 1/3 scoreless innings and become one of the biggest surprises on a team full of them.
LeBlanc doesn’t beat batters with overpowering stuff, as he rarely hits above 90 on the radar gun. Instead, the lefty relies on slick movement and a killer changeup to get hitters out, and it’s been very effective so far this season.
LeBlanc twice has faced the Giants in his career, and sports betting cappers know he’s put up some damn good numbers. He’s 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts against San Fran. However, because of the overhaul of the Giants roster over the past couple of seasons, not many current Giants have seen LeBlanc pitch. Outfielder Nate Schierholtz will be the matchup to watch with the Pads lefty; Schierholtz is hitting .409 against southpaws this season.
Zito vs Padres Hitting
Barry Zito is experiencing a career-resurgence in 2010, and seems to finally earning that massive contract he signed years ago. He’s 5-0 with a miniscule 1.49 ERA and an even minisculer 0.92 WHIP. He’s getting deep into games, he’s striking people out and he’s cut down on his walks. He looks very much like his 2002 self; the one who won the Cy Young.
Top Padre hitters have been solid, if not unspectacular, against Zito in his career. Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .289, Chase Headley has a .286 average against the lefty and Scott Hairston boasts a .292 mark against Zito.
Bullpen Comparison
Both San Diego and San Francisco boast formidable bullpens to match their spectacular starting rotation. The Giants boast four regular bullpen arms with ERA’s below 3.00, while San Diego has three. Brian Wilson (SF) and Heath Bell (SD) are among the top closers in the game. Both teams have massive confidence in their bullpen.
Outlook
If you bet sports, bet that this is going to be a low-scoring affair. Two pitchers at the top of their game playing offenses that aren’t necessarily powerhouses is a definite recipe for that. The Giants have the slight edge because they’re playing at home, but this game, and the series for that matter, is a toss-up. It all depends on which offense can get the lucky break. It’s more likely that break happens against LeBlanc than Zito.
Gambling Trends:
San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego’s last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Francisco’s last 5 games when playing San Diego
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Francisco’s last 10 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of San Diego’s last 5 games when playing San Francisco
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of San Diego’s last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of San Francisco’s last 6 games
San Francisco is 10-3 SU in its last 13 games when playing at home against San Diego
Pick: San Francisco Giants
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Poolside Rants hails from beautiful Bozeman Montana by way of Toronto, Canada. (Blame his wife for the move). He’s a Dallas Cowboys football honk. But please….don’t hold that against him. The man knows his sports and has uncanny knowledge when it comes to picking games.
