Astros vs Giants Prediction
Interleague play doesn’t get much better than this, as we’ll get a potential World Series preview this Friday when the San Francisco Giants welcome the Houston Astros to Oracle Park for a three-game set. This will be the first time these two clubs meet this season and the best record in the league will be up for grabs this weekend.
Astros Streaking into August
Houston (63-40) has enjoyed a fantastic month of July. They’ve won eight of their last ten games, and they enter on the heels of two big road wins over a hot Seattle Mariners team.
Legendary skipper Dusty Baker will send Framber Valdez to the mound this Friday. The fourth-year flamethrower is enjoying his best season to date, posting a 6-2 record with 60 strikeouts and a career-low 2.97 ERA. Prior to his loss in Chicago, Valdez had won his four previous road starts..
Former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke and Luis Garcia are slated to start Houston over the weekend. Greinke has been in fine form during his 18th season. He just notched his twelve 10-win in his last start, tossing six innings in a home victory over the Texas Rangers. Garcia has been solid during his rookie campaign. Despite getting roughed up by the Mariners in his last start, Garcia tossed nine strikeouts, and he’s only thrown less than five Ks in only one of his previous ten starts.
Houston has been an offensive juggernaut this season, ranking first in batting average (.267), on-base percentage (.342), and runs scored (562). Five Astros have 60 RBIs or more, and that’s even with all-star third baseman Alex Bregman on the shelf. Yordan Alvarez leads the team with 67 RBI, while former AL MVP Jose Altuve leads the team in homers (23).
Designated hitter Michael Brantley leads both the team and the American League in batting average (.326). Carlos Correa and Kye Tucker are both carrying four-game hit streaks. Yuri Gurriel is batting a career-high .316 at the plate.
Giants Looking to Maintain League-Best Record
San Francisco (64-38) just wrapped up another high stakes series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and things won’t get easier just yet. Houston presents a very tough test, and with a seven-game road stretch looming, the Giants can’t drop three games here.
San Fran’s has a very good chance to take the first game with Kevin Gausman on the mound. The ace of the staff is having the best season of his nine-year career, posting a 9-4 record with 140 strikeouts and a 2.21 ERA.
Gausman uncharacteristically lost his last start at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he’s been steady at Oracle Park this season, winning five of his last six starts.
Former All-Star Alex Wood will get the call Saturday, and Logan Webb will wrap things up Sunday. Wood is enjoying a great first season in the Bay. He’s posted a 9-3 record, with 102 strikeouts and a 3.65 ERA, his best since his All-Star season in 2017. Webb has improved in his third big league season. He hasn’t a decision in his last five starts, but he hasn’t given up more than one earned run in six of his last seven appearances.
The Giants rank in the top ten of nearly every offensive category this season. They’re first in homers (135) and 5th in slugging percentage (.433). San Fran is somehow managing to do it, even with injuries to veterans Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt. Longoria was riding an eleven-game hit streak, and batting .280, which was his highest since the 2012 season. Belt hit 11 homers and was on pace to set a career-high in home runs.
With those experienced bats on the shelf, the Giants still have the luxury of future hall of fame catcher Buster Posey. His return to the lineup is timely after missing a couple of weeks of action, and like Longoria, he’s batting his highest average since 2012 with a .328.
Brandon Crawford, Dee Solano, and Wilmer Flores all help make up one of the stronger hitting infields in the league. Crawford is having the best season of his eleven-year career, and he leads the Giants in homers (18) and RBIs (60).
Astros vs Giants Prediction
Is it November yet? This series will give off a World Series vibe, and it’ll be very tough to call. San Francisco always finds a way to win at home, but it’s very hard to willingly bet against the Houston bats. Gausman looked shaky in his last outing, but if he’s on the Giants can take this first game at home. Over 7.5 feels like the safest play, but give San Fran a look as home underdogs.
Greinke has been historically good against the Giants and at Oracle Park. He’ll likely continue to capitalize on great run support and pick up the win Saturday afternoon. With the series split, betting on Houston’s bats with a flamethrower in Garcia on the mound Sunday may be the way to sway.
