MLB Picks Today – Odds and Probable Pitchers for Giants vs Diamondbacks (July 1)
By John Perrotto in MLB Baseball
Published:
- See the best bets in baseball for Thursday, July 1st
- The Giants’ Johnny Cueto faces the Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly in Phoenix
- See the odds, trends and predictions
The team with the best record in the major leagues plays the team with the worst record when the San Francisco Giants visit the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:40 p.m. ET Thursday at Chase Field in Phoenix.
The Giants (50-29) are still atop the overall MLB standings despite being on a three-game losing streak. Before the skid, San Francisco won five games in a row and 10 of 11. The Diamondbacks (22-60) have lost four straight games, seven of eight and 22 of 26, and are underdogs again.
Johnny Cueto (6-3, 3.63) is slated to pitch for the Giants against Merrill Kelly (4-7, 4.73).
Giants vs Diamondbacks Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total at DraftKings |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | -143 | -1.5 (+117) | Over 9 (+100) |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +123 | +1.5 (-137) | Under 9 (-120) |
Odds as of July 1st
Cueto Dealing for Giants
Cueto has won his last two starts and is coming off perhaps his best performance of the season. He pitched seven scoreless innings to beat the visiting Oakland Athletics last Friday, allowing five hits and one walk to go with six strikeouts.
Johnny Cueto is the perfect person to have on the mound for the first night of a full ballpark. He's feeling it right now pic.twitter.com/I3kC6tMyi8
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 26, 2021
Cueto has notched quality starts in both outing, giving him a total of four in 12 games this season. Away from hitter friendly Oracle Park, Cueto has struggled with a 2-2 record with a 4.97 ERA in five road starts. He is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five night starts.
Cueto faced the Diamondbacks on May 26 in Phoenix and did not factor in the decision as he allowed four runs in five innings in a game the Giants won 5-4. However, he is 11-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 19 career starts against Arizona, including 8-1 with 3.54 ERA in 13 starts at Chase Field.
The Giants’ bullpen has been airtight lately. The relievers had a 1.99 ERA in June and have posted a 1.30 mark in the last eight games.
Tyler Rogers, Stupid 73mph Rising Slider😵💫
lol pic.twitter.com/K4J4IefDHh— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 13, 2021
Arizona first baseman Christian Walker is on a seven-game hitting streak, going 11 for 27 (.407) but the Diamondbacks have scored four runs or fewer in four consecutive games.
Left fielder David Peralta is 1 for 18 against Cueto with nine strikeouts. Shortstop Nick Ahmed is 2 for 14 with four Ks.
Kelly Rare D-Backs Bright Spot
Amid all the Diamondbacks’ losing, Kelly has won his last two starts, allowing only one run in 13 innings.
Kelly pitched six shutout innings to beat the Padres last Saturday to end the Diamondbacks’ MLB-record 24-game road losing streak. He scattered five hits, had no walks and struck out five.
Antonio Senzatela, Jordan Lyles, Brady Singer, Merrill Kelly
“What is 4 of the 52 qualified starting pitchers with a lower June ERA than Gerrit Cole?” pic.twitter.com/n195UkVf6y
— Prospects 365 (@RayButler365) June 29, 2021
Until the consecutive victories, Kelly has gone nine straight starts without a win. He has six quality starts in 16 outings this season. Kelly has pitched well at home, going 2-2 with a 3.59 ERA in seven starts. At night, he has gone 4-6 with a 4.40 ERA in 13 starts.
Kelly started opposite Cueto on May 26 and yielded two runs in six innings. Kelly lost to the Giants on June 16 at San Francisco when he was charged with four runs in three innings. In six career starts against San Francisco, Kelly is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA. Giants catcher Buster Posey is 5 for 14 (.357) against him with two doubles and a home run.
Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski (bruised right shin) is expected to return to the lineup after sitting out one g Mike Tauchman injured his right knee in a loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday night and could be headed to the injured list.
The Giants’ offense is struggling as it has generated two runs or less in four of the past five games.
All Giants Lately
The Diamondbacks lost to the Cardinals 7-4 at St. Louis on Wednesday as they were swept for the 13th time this season. Walker had half of Arizona’s six hits.
Christian Walker finds no-man's land and the D-backs have something cooking!@Dbacks | #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/Rej5PJZFrp
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) June 16, 2021
The Giants had Wednesday off after losing to the Dodgers 3-1 on Tuesday night. Steven Duggar doubled in San Francisco’s lone run. The Giants have won all six games against the Diamondbacks this season, sweeping a two-game series in Phoenix and a four-game set in San Francisco.
Duggar has gone 10 for 15 (.667) with one double, one triple and two home runs for the Giants.
Steven Duggar appreciation post pic.twitter.com/Wifg1H2iH3
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 27, 2021
The Giants also dominated the season series in 2020, going 8-2. While the Giants would seem like the logical play, Kelly is the Diamondbacks’ one reliable starting pitcher. So, let’s play the under in a game with two scuffling offenses.
The Pick: Under 9 (-120)
Sports Writer
John Perrotto has been covering and writing about sports for various outlets for over 40 years. His work has appeared in the likes of USA TODAY, ESPN.com, SI.com, Forbes.com, The Associated Press, Baseball Digest, and more. John is based out of Beaver Falls, PA.
