Atlanta Braves (61-55) vs. San Francisco Giants (61-58)
The MLB 2024 season continues on Monday, August 12, as the Atlanta Braves take on the San Francisco Giants in a National League clash at Oracle Park, San Francisco, California, with the first pitch scheduled for 9:45 PM ET.
This match marks the beginning of a four-game series between the Braves and Giants. Atlanta enters as a slight -120 favorite on the moneyline, while the total for the game is set at 7.0 runs, leaning toward the under.
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Challenges Loom for the Atlanta Braves
Excluding Sunday’s games, the 61-55 Atlanta Braves recently visited the Colorado Rockies, aiming to secure a three-game series win at Coors Field. Following a narrow 6-5 loss in the opener, the Braves managed to bounce back with an 11-8 victory in the second game, ending a six-game losing streak.
Atlanta has struggled significantly since the All-Star break, recording just 8 wins in their last 21 games. As of Sunday morning, they held the final wild card spot in the National League, only half a game ahead of the New York Mets. The Braves have shown offensive promise, hitting a solid .280/.339/.537 with ten doubles, one triple, and 11 home runs over the last week. However, their pitching has faltered, showcasing a concerning 9.41 ERA and a .366 batting average against.
Chris Sale is set to take the mound for Atlanta on Monday. The seasoned 35-year-old left-hander boasts a strong 13-3 record, along with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP over 21 starts this season. In his most recent outing against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits.
This will be Sale’s second matchup against the Giants this season. He previously secured a win against them on July 3, delivering a stellar performance by striking out nine batters over six innings.
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San Francisco Giants Gaining Momentum
The 61-58 San Francisco Giants hosted the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, with hopes of completing a three-game series sweep. They secured a 3-2 win in the opener and followed up with a 3-1 victory in the second game, extending their winning streak to four games. The Giants have been on a roll, boasting an impressive 12-3 record in their last 15 games.
In the past week, the Giants have been hitting .242/.303/.403, with 11 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs across 211 at-bats. Their pitching staff has maintained a 4.00 ERA and a .230 batting average against. As of Sunday morning, they were 1.5 games behind the Braves in the wild-card race.
Blake Snell will be the starting pitcher for San Francisco on Monday. The 31-year-old southpaw has a 2-3 record with a 4.31 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 12 starts this season. Snell has been in remarkable form over his last six outings, allowing only five earned runs across 39 innings of work. He most recently pitched six innings against the Washington Nationals, giving up three runs while earning the win.
Key Betting Insights for Braves vs. Giants
This matchup at Oracle Park is likely to showcase a competitive pitching duel. With Blake Snell’s recent no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds on August 2, and Chris Sale’s impressive streak of not allowing more than two earned runs in ten consecutive starts, predicting the winner becomes a challenging task.
The Braves’ current roster has fared decently against Snell, with a combined 18 hits in 61 at-bats, including six doubles and five home runs. Conversely, the Giants have collected 11 hits in 41 at-bats against Sale, featuring five doubles and a couple of home runs. Recent statistics reveal that the Giants have demonstrated a formidable 135 wRC+ and .830 OPS against left-handed pitchers over the past ten days, while the Braves have struggled with an 84 wRC+ and .610 OPS in limited plate appearances.
Given the current form of both bullpens, the Giants might have the upper hand. Their relievers have recorded a solid 2.32 ERA in the past ten days, compared to the Braves’ troubling 5.68 ERA during the same timeframe.
