The San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles will conclude their three-game series in Baltimore on Thursday afternoon. The Giants find themselves out of the playoff race in the National League, while the Orioles still have a chance to claim their second consecutive AL East title and currently occupy the top wildcard position in the American League. The pitching matchup for Thursday will feature Giants’ right-hander Logan Webb (12-10, 3.53) squaring off against Orioles’ righty Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.55). The first pitch is set for 1:05 PM EST.
Giants Rely on Ace Logan Webb
The San Francisco Giants have officially shifted into ‘wait until next year’ mode after another lackluster season. They have faced challenges with inconsistent hitting and significant injuries to their pitching staff, hindering their progress. In the series opener, the Giants dominated the struggling Orioles, winning 10-0 behind a stellar six-inning performance from Blake Snell, who struck out 12 batters and allowed only one hit. On Wednesday night, the Giants secured another victory, beating the Orioles 5-3. Mike Yastrzemski continued his hot streak, leading off the game with a home run for the second consecutive night.
The Giants will turn to their ace, Logan Webb, for Thursday’s game as he makes his 31st start of the season. Webb enters with a record of 12-10 and boasts 19 quality starts. He has an ERA of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.24, having allowed 194 hits over 193.2 innings while striking out 161 and walking 47. Webb gave up 11 home runs this season, but his last outing was a struggle, allowing seven hits and four runs in just four innings.
Key Injuries: SP Thomas Szapucki, SP Robbie Ray, and RP Randy Rodriguez are sidelined.
Orioles Look to Eflin for Stability
The Baltimore Orioles are currently facing challenges as the playoffs draw near. They have been in a tight race with the Yankees for the top position in the AL East but have faltered in recent weeks, making a strong finish essential for any chance of catching New York for the division title. This title is crucial as it would grant them a bye during Wildcard Weekend. After a disappointing 10-0 loss in the series opener, where they managed only five hits and struck out 15 times, the Orioles fell again in the second game, losing 5-3. Starter Dean Kremer struggled, allowing seven hits and four runs over six innings.
In the final game of the series, the Orioles will rely on Zach Eflin, a recent trade acquisition. Eflin has a season record of 10-9 across 26 starts, including 12 quality starts. Since joining the Orioles, he has maintained a solid performance with an ERA of 3.55 and a WHIP of 1.13, allowing 156 hits in 154.2 innings. Eflin has struck out 128 batters while walking only 18 but has surrendered 20 home runs this season. In his most recent outing, he faced a tough loss in a 1-0 game against the Tigers, where he pitched 6.2 innings and allowed just one run on five hits.
Key Injuries: 3B Jordan Westburg, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, and 3B Ramon Urias are unavailable.
Best Bets for Giants vs. Orioles
In this matchup of two skilled starting pitchers, opting for Webb seems wise. Following a short outing in his last start against the Padres, Webb is expected to be well-rested and ready to perform at Camden Yards, where the larger outfield dimensions should play to his strengths. While Eflin has shown promise since his arrival from Tampa, he has been more prone to giving up home runs, totaling 20 this season. Both teams are struggling offensively, particularly the Orioles, who have seen their batting average dip to .248. The Giants have also struggled, holding a .238 batting average this season. Given these factors, backing Webb appears to be the more favorable choice in this matchup.
