MLB Expert Picks Diamondbacks at Giants Prediction, Odds, (Sept. 30th)

By Carl Taylor
in MLB
— September 30, 2021

Diamondbacks are 35-95 last 130 overall
Diamondbacks are 11-52 last 63 overall
Giants are 40-15 last 55 overall
Giants are 16-5 last 21 head to head in San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants are bearing down on an NL West title, holding a two-game lead over the Dodgers with four to play. SF is at home for those final four games, and wrap up a series with the last-place Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. San Fran has now won five in a row, a good bet for six as -218 favorites in this spot.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Francisco Giants Schedule

Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
When: Thursday, September 30th, 10:10 ET
Watch: RSN

Diamondbacks vs Giants Odds

Bet Type

Game Preview

Arizona Ready to Be Done with 2021 Season

The Diamondbacks have lost 12 of their last 15 but haven’t been a complete pushover in the last couple series’. Arizona has stolen a game against Houston, Atlanta, and the Dodgers over the last three, all playoff-bound teams. The D’Backs even had their chances on Wednesday against the Giants, losing just 1-0.

Sep 23, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona offense is always a big liability as evidenced by them being shut out on Wednesday night. That was the second time in the last three games not plating a single run for the Diamondbacks, and they’ve been held to 2 runs or less in five of the last eight. Kole Calhoun and Geraldo Perdomo are the only two D’Backs starters hitting better than .300 over the past week.

Madison Bumgarner (7-10, 4.58 ERA) makes the start against his old team on Thursday night, but Arizona has lost in five of his last six trips to the mound. Bumgarner had allowed 4+ runs in four straight starts but has buckled down to give up 5 over his last 12 IP. Bumgarner allowed just 1 ER over 7.0 IP in his only start vs. San Francisco this season.

San Francisco Inches Closer

The Giants are headed to the postseason – that’s already been clinched. They are still in a dogfight though because both SF and Los Angeles want to win the division and avoid the one-and-done wild-card game against a St. Louis team that had just won 16 games in a row.

San Francisco had a rare offensive dud on Wednesday, but still got the 1-0 win to keep their lead over L.A at two games. The Giants had scored 6+ runs in seven straight games prior, and seem like they’ll get back into that production against Bumgarner. Five Giants batters have hit .360 or better over the past week led by Brandon Belt who has a .571 OBP over that span.

Sep 29, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants players celebrate their victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Wood dominated the Arizona offense on Wednesday, holding them to just 3 hits over 6.0 IP. Scott Kazmir (0-1, 4.09 ERA) will try to emulate that in just his second start back from Triple-A, throwing 4.0 innings of 0 ER ball on September 22^nd in a win over the Padres.

MLB Predictions Today:

Who will win tonight’s MLB game:

There’s not a ton of value on San Francisco at -218 with Kazmir likely only throwing another 3-4 innings before turning things over to the bullpen. Does Bumgarner serve one up for his old franchise though as almost everybody outside of Chavez Ravine would rather see the Giants win the West rather than the Dodgers?

Diamondbacks 3 – Giants 5

Free MLB Pick:

Giants -1.5