We've got a packed slate with 15 games on the MLB betting board this Friday, with the final matchup taking place between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants.
This is the first contest in a three-game set at Oracle Park and oddsmakers are having a tough separating the two clubs for this showdown with the line opening as a pick'em.
Here are our best free Phillies vs. Giants MLB picks and predictions for September 1.
Phillies vs Giants best odds
Phillies vs Giants picks and predictions
My best bet: Phillies Team Total Over 3.5 (-110 at bet365)
It's a bit surprising that this number is so low when you consider how dangerous Philadelphia's bats are.
Giants starter Alex Cobb has been solid lately, with a 3.15 ERA in his last 10 starts, but he allowed at least three earned runs in six of those outings.
Looking at his production over the last few seasons, Cobb hasn't really impressed and he hasn't really added anything to his repertoire. Meanwhile, the Giants bullpen has been a disaster with San Francisco relievers having the second-worst OBA in the majors (.260) and ranking 23rd in ERA (4.22).
The Phillies are plating 5.14 runs per game over the last 30 days, despite only getting superstar slugger Bryce Harper back from the IL last week. They have also scored at least four runs in 10 of their last 12 games.
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Phillies vs Giants betting preview
Jump to:
•Side analysis •Over/Under analysis •Starting pitchers •Injuries •Weather •Trend to know
Spread analysis
The Phillies snapped a three-game slide with an 18-2 rout of the Diamondbacks on Wednesday before making the trip to California. They're now locked into a Wild Card spot but can't afford to take their foot off the pedal with the lurking Brewers just three games behind them.
The Giants have lost seven games in a row and would need a small miracle to make the postseason. They have regressed a fair bit after overachieving in 2021 and they really don't have a roster with a whole lot of talent.
The Giants are a middle-of-the-pack team when it comes to hitting, ranking 14th in the majors in OPS (.704) and 15th in hard-hit rate (37.6%).
The Phillies are seventh in OPS (.739) and sixth in hard-hit rate (41.5%) which is even more impressive when you consider that they were missing former MVP Bryce Harper and the reliable Jean Segura for two months. Both are back in the lineup, and while Harper has yet to hit a home run since returning from the 60-day IL last Friday, he has gone 8-for-21 at the plate and picked up three hits on Wednesday.
Kyle Gibson will toe the rubber for Philadelphia. The veteran has a middling 4.08 ERA but he is well above average when it comes to hard-hit rate and barrel rate. He has also been solid lately with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in his last six starts.
The Giants will respond with right-hander Alex Cobb who has a 3.81 ERA with an OBA of .258 in 21 starts this year. Since returning from the IL in June, Cobb has pitched to a 2.82 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP across 13 starts.
Over/Under analysis
The total opened at a relatively low 7.5, which is a bit surprising when you consider that neither starter is that good and the bullpens for both sides are mediocre. While the O/U has since ticked up to 8 (with the Under juiced at -120) it still looks a tad low.
Sure both Gibson and Cobb have looked very sharp over the last month, but long-term data over the last few years has proven that they are average arms.
The Giants have struggled at the dish over the last couple of weeks but they still sit a respectable 14th in the majors with 4.40 runs per game. Meanwhile, the Phillies can mash and are fifth in the majors with 4.74 runs/game.
Phillies vs Giants game infoh
• Location: Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
• Date: Friday, September 2, 2022
• First pitch: 10:15 p.m. ET
• TV: Apple TV+
Starting pitchers
Kyle Gibson (9-5, 4.08 ERA): Gibson was having a breakout season with the Rangers in 2021, but after being traded to the Phillies at the trade deadline, he has regressed. The 34-year-old has a 1.20 WHIP with an OBA of .245 in 25 starts this year. He did throw a gem in his last start, keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard and fanning nine batters through seven innings of work.
Alex Cobb (4-6, 3.81 ERA): In his first season with the Giants, Cobb is putting together a solid year with a 1.30 WHIP and a 2.93 FIP through 111 innings. He has been particularly effective over the last couple of months and is coming off a strong outing against the Twins where he pitched five innings of shutout ball.
Key injuries
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Betting trend to know
Phillies are 10-3 in their last 13 road games vs. losing teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Giants
