San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants 2/28/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the San Diego Padres will face off against the San Francisco Giants in MLB action at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, AZ at 4:05 PM ET. The Padres acquired Juan Soto in a transaction last summer and are now committed to going all-in for the 2023 season. They have also added Xander Bogaerts to their roster and extended the contracts of Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish. However, there is some uncertainty surrounding the future of star third baseman Manny Machado, who is approaching free agency after an opt-out, which may be a minor distraction.
Soto, who finished second in the 2021 season while playing for the Washington Nationals, did not make the cut in 2022. However, both the Nationals and Padres had a disappointing season. Soto’s batting line in his last season was .242/.401/.452, which represented career lows or was tied with his previous low. It may take a full season for Soto to adjust to his new team’s circumstances, and last season, he performed worse with the Padres than with the Nationals. Nonetheless, there is no indication that he will perform below expectations in 2022, and he will undoubtedly serve as a reminder of his incredible talent to baseball fans.
- The Padres are 2-3 in their previous 5 meetings against the spread.
- San Diego is 42-39 in their previous road matches against the spread.
- The totals went OVER in 2 of the San Diego Padres’ last 5 meetings.
San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants 2/28/2023 Tips, Free Picks and Previews
During the offseason, the San Francisco Giants were actively considering signing Aaron Judge, and they were busy with other transactions as well. At one point, reporter Jon Heyman claimed that Judge was traveling to the Bay Area, but he eventually opted to return to the Bronx. The Giants also pursued Carlos Correa, but his 13-year contract with the team was not finalized due to a failed medical exam. The Giants and the New York Mets reportedly backed off from signing Correa due to potential arthritis issues in the future, and instead focused on acquiring auxiliary players like Michael Conforto, Mitch Haniger, and Taylor Rodgers. They passed on the opportunity to sign Judge and Correa.
Pitching has been the main strength of the Giants in their four prior World Series titles. However, their bullpen lost steam at the end of last season, which was a major issue. To address this, President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi opted for a strength-in-numbers approach by signing many starting pitchers during the winter.
- San Francisco is 2-3 in their previous 5 meetings against the spread.
- The Giants are 40-40 in their road matches against the spread.
- The totals went OVER in 4 of the San Francisco Giants’ previous 5 meetings.
San Diego Padres vs San Francisco Giants. The MLB pick for this game is the San Diego Padres. The 2022 season will present a challenge for the San Diego Padres as they attempt to make up a 22-game deficit to their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres have not won a division title since 2006 and only returned to the playoffs in 2020, where they were eliminated in the NLDS. However, this year’s Padres team is different from previous years and has had a full offseason to prepare. The Padres have since worked to balance their roster and have a stronger team overall. In contrast, the Dodgers made some acquisitions, including David Peralta and Noah Syndergaard, but they are seen as fillers. Despite this, the San Diego Padres are predicted to win with a score of 5-3.
MLB Starting Time: 4:05 PM (EDT)
Location: Scottsdale Stadium Scottsdale, AZ
Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2023
TV: Fox Sports San Diego
MLB Odds: San Diego Padres +115
MLB Totals: 7.5
