The D-Backs can see the light! Six games up on the Giants and set to play them three straight times, they have a chance to essentially lock up the National League West with a good series this weekend. <\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Diamondbacks vs Giants Preview & Pick<\/strong> Arizona Diamondbacks (78-59)<\/strong> There isn\u2019t a hotter team in baseball; Arizona has won nine straight games, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in eight of those victories.<\/p>\n Joe Saunders contributed to the streak with seven innings of one-run ball (zero earned) against the Padres on August 27, bouncing back from a stretch of ugly starts. He hasn\u2019t fared well against the Giants in two career outings, losing both and posting a 5.27 ERA with 20 hits allowed in 1.2 innings. But Saunders has been impressive on the road overall this year, posting a 3.28 ERA and 1.18 WHIP.<\/p>\n San Francisco Giants (72-65)<\/strong> This is the critical season juncture at which the Giants must show why they\u2019re the defending World Series champs. Losing three of four this week to the lowly Astros and Cubs isn\u2019t exactly the mark of a champion, is it?<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, San Francisco\u2019s hitting continues to be its problem. The Giants have the second-best ERA, WHIP, and strikeout total in baseball and are first in quality starts but they\u2019re last in runs scored per game and second-last in batting average and OPS. Last season, their plucky bats got hot down the stretch; it hasn\u2019t happened so far in 2011. Carlos Beltran is batting just .260 with one homer in 20 games since arriving from the Mets in a trade. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Matt Cain\u2019s stats are vintage Cain; fantastic 2.87 ERA but he\u2019s just a game over .500 because of poor run support. He\u2019s 9-5 against the D-Backs with a 3.52 ERA over 21 career starts.<\/p>\n ARI are 9-0 in their last 9 overall. The pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n Poor Cain has to be perfect to beat the streaking D-Backs, it seems. His last time out, they tagged him for five runs in 5.2 innings at home.<\/p>\n The signs point to an Arizona win. But I\u2019m going to do something I don\u2019t often do with baseball picks: rely on intangibles.<\/p>\n For all intents and purposes, Friday night is a playoff game. The Giants must win. And Cain proved last season that he is totally clutch, not allowing a single run over three playoff starts. He\u2019ll bring his best stuff to the hill on Friday.<\/p>\n Factoring in that most of Arizona\u2019s hot streak took place at home and that Saunders is a beatable pitcher, I like San Fran.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Friday, September 2, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>AT&T Park, San Francisco, CA
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSAZ, CSBA
\nArizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants Betting Lines from Bodog.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Giants -164<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 6.5<\/strong>
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\nJoe Saunders (9-11, 3.82)<\/p>\n
\nMatt Cain (10-9, 2.87)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nARI are 9-0 in their last 9 games on grass.
\nUnder is 15-5-1 in ARI last 21 overall.
\nOver is 6-2 in SF last 8 games following an off day.
\nSF are 9-20 in their last 29 games on grass.
\nUnder is 39-19-1 in SF last 59 home games.
\nUnder is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
\nARI are 18-37 in the last 55 meetings.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n