The Chicago Cubs (26-36) and the San Francisco Giants (32-30) kick off a 3-game series Friday at Oracle Park. First pitch is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Giants odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023; Giants won the season series 5-2 in 2022
The Cubs have dropped 4 in a row, and Chicago is just 2-5 in the first 7 games of a 10-game road trip. Chicago is averaging just 1.8 runs per game across the past 4 losses and has 2 or fewer runs in 4 of the 7 games on the trip so far — including a pair of shutout setbacks.
The Giants are coming off a 3-game sweep of the division rival Colorado Rockies on the road Tuesday through Thursday. San Francisco has averaged 5.5 runs per game across its last 17 outings but has allowed 4 or more runs in each of the past 4 contests.
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Cubs at Giants projected starters
RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani
Stroman (6-4, 2.39 ERA) makes his 14th start. He has a 1.00 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 79 IP.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K in a 7-1 road win vs. the San Diego Padres Sunday
- 2023 Road splits: 2-1, 2.73 ERA (33 IP, 10 ER – 1 HR) with a .221 OBA in 6 starts
DeSclafani (4-5, 3.97 ERA) makes his 13th start. He has a 1.12 WHIP, 1.5 BB/9 and 6.5 K/9 in 70 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 3 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K in an 8-3 home loss vs. the Baltimore Orioles Sunday
- 2023 Home splits: 2-3, 4.99 ERA (39 2/3 IP, 22 ER – 4 HR) with a .280 OBA in 7 starts
Cubs at Giants odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:32 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Giants -120 (bet $120 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-210) | Giants -1.5 (+170)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cubs at Giants picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 6, Giants 4
Moneyline
It’s bit of a leap of faith, but back the CUBS (+100) as the short ‘dogs at even money.
Chicago has lost 4 in a row coming in, but Stroman has pitched well lately, and the pitching advantage is in the favor of the visitors over DeSclafani and the Giants.
Run line/Against the spread
The Cubs +1.5 (-210) will cost you over 2 times your potential return if you require a little insurance and you cannot back Chicago straight up. While the Cubs are just 5-18 in the past 23 games on the road, they have won 20 of the previous 28 series openers.
The Giants -1.5 (+170) have dropped 4 of the past 5 at home, while going 1-4 in the past 5 at home against a right-handed starting pitcher, too.
PASS.
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Over/Under
OVER 7.5 (-110) is easily my favorite wager in this series opener.
The winds are usually gusting out to straightaway center field or the power alleys at Oracle Park, and Friday is no exception. We’ll have a jet stream blowing 20-23 mph, aiding the batters and making life miserable for both of the starting hurlers. I have more faith in Stroman being able to keep the ball down and inside the yard than DeSclafani.
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