Two straight losses have knocked the San Francisco Giants (30-22) off the top spot in the National League West. A win tonight in a three-game series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, however, will help San Francisco keep in step with National League West division leaders, LA Dodgers. The Pirates (26-24), meanwhile, are currently seven games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central’s top place. In another ball game, the Yankees and the Mariners square off at Seattle. You can click a full preview of that game here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants Preview
Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco
When: Monday, June 1, 2015, 10:15 PM ET
Line: Pittsburgh Pirates (-130) vs. San Francisco Giants (+120); total: 8.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitching has been a big key to Pittsburgh’s rise in the National League Central division. And with Gerrit Cole pitching for them tonight, the Pirates have every reason to feel confident when they pay San Francisco a visit for the opener of a three-game series. The Pirates are 3-1 in Cole’s last four road starts.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Cole (7-2, 2.11 ERA) enters Game 1 of this series four days after a solid outing in his last start, a 5-2 win over Miami on May 27. Against the Marlins, Cole allowed just two runs on seven hits over seven innings of duty on the mound. He looks to build on that performance as he faces the Giants, against whom he is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA in two career starts.
On offense, Pittsburgh will count on the smoldering bat of Francisco Cervelli, who is batting .449 over the last 15 games. He went 3-for-4 in the Bucs’ last game, albeit a 7-1 loss to San Diego on Sunday. Neil Walker, meanwhile, is 7-for-16, including four doubles, in his career against Giants starter, Ryan Vogelsong.
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Betting on the San Francisco Giants
The Giants have cooled off a bit after going on a five-game win streak, as they have dropped their last two games. San Francisco seeks a return to the win column as Ryan Vogelsong starts tonight against the Pirates.
Vogelsong has been nothing short of exceptional this month, wherein he is 4-0 with an ERA of 1.14, third lowest in the league. Pitching at the confines of AT&T Park may help Vogelsong continue his exploits on the mound, given that he owns a decent 2-1 record with a 2.06 ERA in seven home starts since August of last year. In addition, the Giants are 6-0 in Vogelsong’s last six home starts.
San Francisco’s offense, however, will have to show up and give Vogelsong enough room to operate. San Francisco managed to put up just five runs total over its last two home games. Nori Aoki is among the hottest hitters for the Giants of late, as the outfielder is batting .393 (11-for-28) over his last seven games. Joe Panik, who went 2-for-4 with a homer in San Francisco’s 7-5 loss Sunday to Atlanta, is hitting .296 (8-for-27) with two homers and, four walks, and seven RBIs over the same stretch.
Writer’s Prediction
Pittsburgh (-130) wins, 5-3.
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