by James Q
Saturday, Jul 31, 2021Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Prediction, Odds and Preview - 08/01/2021
Game Time: 4:05 pm ET, Sunday, August, 1st, 2021
Venue: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
Where to Watch: ATT SportsNet-SW, NBCS BA
Season-to-Date Record:
Astros: W/L (64-40, 1st place, American league West)
Giants: W/L (64-39, 1st place, National League West)
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks:
DraftKings: Moneyline odds: Astros +100, Giants -125; Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Key Injuries:
Astros: Alex Bregman (quad) Out; Justin Verlander (tommy john) Out til' 2022
Giants: Jaylin Davis (hamstring) day to day; Brandon Belt (knee) day to day
Recent Lineups:
Astros:
J. Altuve, 2B
A. Diaz, 3B
M. Brantley, LF
Y. Gurriel, 1B
C. Correa, SS
K. Tucker, RF
C. McCormick, CF
Z. Greinke, P
M. Maldonado, C
Giants:
L. Wade Jr, LF
M. Yastrzemski, RF
D. Ruf, 1B
W. Flores, 3B
B. Crawford, SS
D. Solano, 2B
S. Duggar, CF
C. Casali, C
A. Wood, P
Statistical Leaders:
Astros:
Batting Average: Michael Brantley (.330)
Home Runs: Jose Altuve (25)
RBI: Yordan Alvarez (67)
Stolen Bases: Myles Straw (17)
Wins: Zach Greinke (10)
ERA: Zach Greinke (3.48)
Giants:
Batting Average: Brandon Crawford (.288)
Home Runs: Brandon Crawford (18)
RBI: Brandon Crawford (61)
Stolen Bases: Austin Slater (9)
Wins: Anthony DeScalafani (10)
ERA: Kevin Gausman (2.35)
Managers:
Astros: Dusty Baker (2nd season)
Giants: Gabe Kapler (2nd season)
Recent Form:
The Astros are 7-3 over their last ten games. They beat the Giants Friday night in the first of a 3 game series. The batters came alive to score 9 runs. Astros fans are looking for a sweep in the Giants stadium and they may get it.
The Giants dropped to 5-5 over their last ten with Friday's loss. This is one of the hottest tickets in MLB. Whether road games or home games San Fran plays tough every time.
Statistical Comparison:
The Astros are 1st in the majors in hitting. A team .268 batting average, 176 homers, a wonderfully low 784 strike out total. 8
The Giants are 3rd in the league in pitching. A team average 3.35 ERA, they have struck out opponents 902 times. The Dodgers, Padres, and Brewers have way more strikeouts of opponents in the top five pitching group. The Giants rely more on strong defensive plays in the field.
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Astros vs Giants Game Preview:
Saturday's game brought us Zack Greinke vs Alex Wood. Results not in yet, but I'm betting Greinke was the better starter and Woods gave up a few homers. The probable pitchers for Sunday look like righty Luis Garcia for the Astros (7-5, 3.19 ERA, 114 SO) verses righty Logan Webb (4-3, 3.36 ERA, 70 SO). I give Houston the advantage. It makes it the 3rd game in a 3 game series I favored the Astros.... but they are playing that good. The Astros have good pitching and great hitting right now and even though the Giants are right in the mix for MLB's best team, the Astros have the advantage.
Notable Quotes:
“You’re a cheater!” - The Crowd at Oracle Park heckling Jose Altuve Friday night. (they aren't wrong, but he still hit a grand slam to answer the organized chant).
“He’s a special player,” - Bench coach Joe Espada, filling in for the suspended Dusty Baker, about Altuve.
"You usually never see a guy hit a pitch that’s taller than him out of the ballpark,.... I definitely thought it was a pop fly. You usually never see those go that far. He’s an incredible hitter and player. He’s one of those guys where it doesn’t matter where the pitch is. He can kind of create his body and make the barrel of the bat be where it needs to be.” Giant's pitcher Kevin Gausman about the grand slam he gave up to Altuve.
Trends:
Astros: The Houston Astros have notched 4 overs and 1 under in their last 5 games. They have been hitting the ball great! They are also 4-1 on the moneyline. They are on a roll, of course playing Seattle and Texas for 4 of those games helped. The roll of Overs should continue until especially during the flux of teams trying to settle in new players fresh off the wild trade deadline.
Giants:
The San Francisco Giants have notched 3 unders and 2 overs in their last 5 games. First place in the National League West is admirable. They will steamroll a lot of teams before the season comes to an end... just not the Astros. The Giants are 3-2 on the money line.
Houston Astros vs San Francisco Giants Prediction: Our MLB Pick for Astros vs Giants Sunday August 1st game is Astros 8, Giants 3... Take the over. In fact I might even parlay the over on the next 3 Astros games if I can find a book to take it.
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James Q
About the Author:
James Q. has been involved with sports and gambling his entire life. A former division 1 scholarship basketball player, James understands sports (and especially basketball) inside-and-out. Following his basketball playing days, James parlayed his gambling skills into a semi-pro poker career. James resides in Los Angeles, and especially loves the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Dodgers. And when he isn't betting on sports (and writing about it), James can be found performing stand-up comedy on the Sunset Strip.
