San Francisco Giants triumphed in the opening game of the series against the Texas Rangers, who have lost 3 of their last 4 encounters. The Giants had failed to secure a victory in six consecutive games before claiming wins in their last 2. They stand at 31-33 and trail the Dodgers by 8.5 wins. The Rangers are 5 games behind the Seattle Mariners.
In the first game of this series, the Giants defeated the Rangers 5-2, smashing 3 home runs. Michael Conforto recorded a double, while Wilmer Flores chipped in with two hits. As of this morning, the Giants have not yet announced their starting pitcher for the game. The San Francisco bullpen ranks 23rd in the league in average ERA. During their six-game losing streak, the Giants allowed an average of 6.3 runs per game, but in their last 2 games, they've conceded just 5 runs in total.
In the first encounter, Texas managed only 2 runs on 5 hits. Over the season, the Rangers hold the 13th spot in the league in runs scored and 12th in team ERA. Andrew Heaney (2-6, 3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) will start on the mound. In his last game, he played 6 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits, leading his team to a 6-0 victory over the Miami Marlins.
Texas seems to be showing signs of life, though unexpected defeats still occur. The Rangers' batting line-up has huge potential, but they're yet to fully unleash it. Andrew Heaney was impressive against Miami, and the Giants are likely to rely on their bullpen. Considering this, backing the home side seems like the safer bet at this moment.
Texas should be better in this game, but the San Francisco bullpen isn't as shabby as one might think. Furthermore, Andrew Heaney is capable of limiting the visitors' bats effectively. I predict this game will follow a similar pattern to the first game in the series, resulting in no more than 8.5 runs.
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