Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants odds, picks and predictions
The Chicago Cubs (37-44) and San Francisco Giants (39-42) finalize a 4-game set with a Thursday matinee. First pitch from Oracle Park is tabbed for 3:45 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Cubs vs. Giantsodds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Giants lead 4-2
The Cubs are looking to avoid being swept in 4. Chicago has dropped the first 3 games of this series and is just 4-9 over its last 13 games.
San Francisco surged in late May but had been on the skids heading into this series. The Giants lost 5 straight June 18-23 and had been just 7-15 over their previous 22 games.
Cubs at Giants projected starters
LHP Shota Imanaga vs. RHP Jordan Hicks
Imanaga (7-2, 2.96 ERA) is making his 15th start. He has a 1.10 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 in 79 IP.
- Last outing: Loss, 3 IP, 10 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 3 K in 11-1 home defeat vs. New York Mets Friday
- Never faced Giants before
- Allowed 3 home runs in his last start and has yielded 7 HR in his last 25 1/3 IP
Hicks (4-4, 3.24 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.28 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 80 2/3 IP.
- Last outing: Loss, 4 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K in 9-4 loss at St. Louis Cardinals Saturday
- Career vs. Cubs: 2-1, 2.88 ERA (25 IP, 8 ER), 13 H, 15 BB, 23 K in 1 start and 18 relief appearances
- Has held current Cubs batters to an aggregate .599 OPS per ESPN
- Has been aided by a .261 batting average on balls in play with runners in scoring position
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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 8:39 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cubs -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Giants -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+150) | Giants +1.5 (-185)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cubs at Giants picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 5, Giants 4
Moneyline
Imanaga's last-game results were logged on the mound but also came out of left field. The Cubs southpaw toted a minuscule 1.89 ERA into that start. Imanaga did have one other clunker this season, and his bounceback was solid enough.
Hicks comes in with the lesser form of late, and his expected-ERA figures indicate more regression on the horizon.
In the big team picture, San Francisco looks to be a couple or 3 wins too far out over its skis. And the Giants are just 9-15 against lefty starters.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the budget line for the visitors in this one. BET THE CUBS (-108).
Run line/Against the spread
Chicago plays in a slew of 1-run games and has already played 4 such contests against this San Francisco club. PASS.
Over/Under
The last 7 Giants games have seen 5 Overs. And the Over has the leverage lean in this series finale.
Both starters have expected ERAs higher than their surface figures. The Chicago bullpen owns a 4.52 ERA and is so-so at best. The San Francisco relief corps is under a fatigue caution flag with the back-end work filed the last few days.
On an afternoon with an outward breeze in the forecast, BACK THE OVER 7.5 (-110).
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