Boston Red Sox vs San Francisco Giants 7/29/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
On Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 7:15 PM ET, the Boston Red Sox are set to face the San Francisco Giants in an MLB showdown at Oracle Park, CA. Before arriving in San Francisco, Boston had been on a hot streak, winning their previous four games. Since the All-Star break, they boasted a 7-4 record before Friday night’s clash. During their four-game winning streak, they outscored their opponents 26-11. However, their pitching staff did surrender five runs in the three games leading up to the Giants matchup, and overall, they ranked 18th, having given up 467 runs in 102 games. Despite this, Paxton’s presence on the mound remains reassuring, with a 5-3 record, a 3.13 ERA, and 48 strikeouts in his previous eight outings. He faced the Giants only once in his career, securing a win despite allowing three runs and five hits in 5.2 innings.
Boston’s offense has been on fire, producing an average of 7.4 runs per game in their first seven victories of the second half. So far, in 102 matches, they have scored 516 runs, ranking them sixth overall. Their hitting has been impressive, with a league-leading 226 doubles and 930 hits, second only to the MLB leader. Masataka Yoshida, one standout player in their ranks, who tied for fourth with 22 doubles. The rookie outfielder is hitting an impressive .316, placing him second in the American League and fifth overall in MLB. Yoshida has also contributed with 53 RBIs, making him the third-highest on the squad in that category.
The Red Sox bullpen has been active, entering games 67 times with runners on base and making 82 outings in high-pressure situations. They rank 27th in the league with 43 holds this season. Additionally, they have been reliable in save situations, boasting a save percentage of 78.4% after making 29 saves out of 37 opportunities. However, they did miss 8 chances to make saves. The bullpen pitchers allowed 103 runners to score this season, with 28.2% of inherited runners crossing home plate. Overall, the Red Sox sent 314 bullpen pitchers to the mound during the season.
- The total remained UNDER in 5 of Boston’s last 6 outings.
- The Boston Red Sox are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
- The Red Sox are 12-5 SU in 17 matches against the San Francisco Giants.
Boston Red Sox vs San Francisco Giants 7/29/2023 Expert Picks, Tips and Odds
The Giants had a strong start to the second half, winning their first five games. However, they faced a setback, losing six consecutive games before securing two victories against Oakland on Friday night, just before this series began. Prior to their impressive eight-run victory over the A’s on Wednesday, they struggled to score, managing only two runs in six of their previous seven games. In 103 games, they scored 467 runs, ranking them 14th in the league. Unfortunately, their team batting average is only .241, making them the 12th-worst team in this category. Wilmer Flores made significant contributions recently, hitting an impressive .387 over 19 games in June. The Giants infielder notched 11 extra-base hits and 8 RBIs and scored 11 runs that month.
The San Francisco pitching staff has performed admirably, boasting a 3.97 ERA after 103 games, making them one of just 11 teams with an ERA under 4.00. They have given up 108 home runs, tied for the third-fewest in the league, across 914.2 innings while striking out 888 batters. However, DeSclafani’s recent outings have been challenging to categorize, as they were relatively brief. He failed to complete five innings twice in his previous three starts and surrendered 11 runs, including six home runs. DeSclafani will be facing Boston for the first time in his career.
The Giants’ bullpen has been solid, accumulating 46 holds and missing 13 saves out of 100 opportunities. They entered the game in 52 save opportunities and successfully converted 39 saves. Additionally, they have made 88 appearances with runners on base and 105 outings in high-pressure situations. Out of 126 inherited runners, the San Francisco bullpen has a 30.2% inherited scoring rate. Throughout the season, they have sent 314 relievers onto the field, and they currently rank second in the league with a save percentage of 75.0%.
- The total remained UNDER in 4 of San Francisco’s last 5 games.
- The San Francisco Giants are 2-7 SU in their last 9 slugfests.
- The total went OVER in 4 of the Giants’ last 5 games with the Boston Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox vs San Francisco Giants. The MLB pick for this game is the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox come into San Francisco with tremendous momentum and improve daily. Their second-half victories have been particularly impressive, with an average margin of victory of 4.7 runs in their seven wins. They showcased utter dominance in those victories. After facing a setback with two losses to Oakland, they bounced back and performed exceptionally well against the Braves, one of the league’s strongest teams. The Giants’ two recent wins were against Oakland, so they may not be a reliable indicator of their current form. During their losing streak, Washington swept them, and they even lost in a make-up game against Detroit. When comparing Boston’s performance to these teams, it’s evident that the Red Sox are performing much higher.
Paxton has been a valuable addition to the Red Sox pitching rotation, consistently delivering strong performances every time he takes the mound. Right-handed batters have struggled against Paxton this season, with a batting average of only .171, which bodes well for his matchup against the Giants offense, which has been less effective. Therefore, the Boston Red Sox is predicted to secure a victory with a score of 5-4.
MLB Starting Time: 7:15 PM ET
Location: Oracle Park, CA
Date: Saturday, July 29, 2023
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area
MLB Odds: Boston Red Sox -106
MLB Totals: 8
