Fresh off a World Series win last season, the San Francisco Giants begin their title defense later tonight as they trek to Phoenix, where they’ll open their season against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Will the Giants pick up where they left off? Or will the D’backs serve an upset in the desert? Read on more about this preview below. You can also click here for the Angels-Mariners game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Preview
Where: Chase Field, Phoenix
When: Monday, April 6, 8:00 PM ET
Line: San Francisco Giants (-138) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (+128); total: 7.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
[sc:MLB240banner ]Madison Bumgarner and the Giants have developed a penchant for winning World Series title in even-numbered years. This 2015 season gives them a chance to prove that they can just be as good as the 2010, 2012, and 2014 Giants teams.
Bumgarner has had an uneventful spring training experience, as he was 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in six preseason starts. That being said, it’s not going to be an easy decision to bet against the Giants versus Arizona considering that they are 5-0 in the lefty’s last five starts against the D’backs.
Bumgarner, however, won’t have Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence behind him. Sandoval signed with Boston during the offseason, while Pence is on the disabled list because of a broken forearm. Softening the blow of the two players’ absence is the return of Angel Pagan to the lineup that will face Josh Collmenter later tonight.
Facing Collmenter could help Pagan make some noise in his first game back since suffering a season-ending back surgery last year. Pagan is a .444 (4-for-9) career hitter against Collmenter. Another Giant who’s having sizeable success against Collmenter is Buster Posey. Posey has gone 11-for-18 (.611) with three homers and eight RBIs against the D’backs’ righty.
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Betting on the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona hit rock bottom last year, finishing the 2014 season with an embarrassing 64-98 record. There’s nowhere to go but up, though, for the Diamondbacks who are desperate to move back into contention in the NL West.
The D’backs, who are priced +3,300 to win their first division title since 2011, can begin the season on the right foot if they can spoil the season debut of the defending World Series champions later tonight.
The pressure to win against San Francisco largely rests on the shoulders of Josh Collmenter, who’s now the No. 1 starter for Arizona. The 6-4 righty finished last season with a record of 11-9 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Dating back to 2012, Collmenter is 4-1 with a 4.34 ERA in five starts against the Giants. Furthermore, Arizona is 7-3 in Collmenter’s last 10 home starts.
On offense, Arizona will count on Paul Goldschmidt, Mark Trumbo and outfielder A.J. Pollock. Pollock played in just 75 games last season but came away with a decent triple slash line of .302/.353/.498. Behind Pollock are serious power bats in Goldschmidt and Trumbo. Goldschmidt led the D’backs last season in homers with 19, while also hitting .300/.396/.542. Trumbo, meanwhile, is looking forward to a full season with Arizona after playing in just 88 games last year.
Trumbo’s power is bound to be on full display in Chase Park, which is the seventh hitter-friendliest in the majors last season. Trumbo hit 14 homers and drove in 61 runs in 2014.
Writer’s Prediction
San Francisco (-138) wins, 5-2.
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