The Arizona Diamondbacks (72-84) are on the road to face the San Francisco Giants (78-78) at Oracle Park on Friday to open a three-game series. The Diamondbacks are in the midst of an eight-game road trip. They split their last series against the Astros, taking the finale 5-2 on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. Carson Kelly was 2 for 4 with a double and one run. The Giants are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Rockies, taking the finale 6-4 on Thursday at Oracle Park for their fourth straight win. Ford Proctor went 1 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs. Austin Slater added a double and one run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Diamondbacks have won nine of 16 in the season series between the NL West rivals, although they dropped a close one 3-2 in their last meeting on Sunday at Chase Field. Reliever Jakob Junis was credited with the win after throwing 5.1 innings, and Camilo Doval picked up his 26th save.
ON THE MOUND
Merrill Kelly (13-7, 3.13 ERA) is slated to get the start for Arizona. The right-hander takes on the Giants in back-to-back starts. He allowed two runs over seven innings on Saturday, a 5-2 road win. He earned the win, yielding four hits while striking out six and walking one. Over five previous starts against the Giants this season, Kelly has allowed only six earned runs over 35.1 innings (3-0, 1.53). He has struck out 30 and walked eight. RHP Alex Cobb (6-7, 3.67 ERA) gets the ball for San Francisco. He has made four appearances against the Diamondbacks this season, all starts, giving up 13 runs (12 ER) over 23 innings (1-2, 4.70) with 15 strikeouts and 10 walks. In his last start on Saturday, Cobb took the loss on the road against the Diamondbacks. He threw five innings and gave up five runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two in the 5-2 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
The Arizona offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .229/.304/.384. Christian Walker leads the team in OPS at .797. The first baseman is slashing .235/.323/.474 with 36 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 81 runs over 154 games. Against right-handed pitchers like Cobb this season, the D-backs have a .703 OPS. Daulton Varsho is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .821 OPS in 396 at-bats. San Francisco is slashing .233/.315/.388 for the season and averaging 4.4 runs per game. Thairo Estrada leads the team with a .740 OPS. The shortstop has 14 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 70 runs scored with a slash line of .266/.326/.414. The Giants have a .692 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With a .719 OPS over 333 at-bats, Wilmer Flores has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Arizona is 32-43 away from Chase Field in 2022, scoring 4.3 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs. San Francisco has won three in a row at home. The Giants are 42-36 at home this season, averaging 4.4 runs per game while surrendering 4.1. In the last 10 meetings at Oracle Park, San Francisco is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 4.2-2.5.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Diamondbacks are fourth in the NL West, 36 games behind the division-leading Dodgers. They are sixth in the Wild Card race, 11 games out of third. The Giants are third in the NL West, 30 games behind the Dodgers. They are fifth in the Wild Card race, five games out of a postseason position.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
SF Giants
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
