MLB Betting: Padres, Giants start crucial set

Jon Garland will try and stop a two-game losing run at home Thursday night.

The San Diego Padres must continue their mastery over the San Francisco Giants to keep their slim NL West lead. The teams start a vital four-game set Thursday night in Southern California.

San Diego is 9-2 against San Francisco this season (4-1 at home). It allowed 2.09 runs per game in those 11 contests, only twice surrendering more than two runs. The ‘under’ has gone 8-2-1.

The Padres (78-59) have been in their own scoring drought the last 12 games, averaging 2.4 runs. They lost 10 straight before winning the last two against the Dodgers (4-2, 2-1).

San Diego leads San Fran by one-game in the division pending Wednesday’s late results. It’s been in first place in the NL West since April 20 and has only been out of the top spot for three days since.

The Giants (78-61) struggled in August with a 13-15 record. However, they got energized by the San Diego losing streak and have won four straight. They go for a sweep Wednesday at Arizona.

Both teams struggle to score runs. San Francisco is at 4.39 per game for the year, with San Diego at 4.30. The baseball betting ‘under’ is 9-2 in San Diego’s last 11 games and 6-2 in San Francisco’s last eight.

Matt Cain (10-10, 3.18 ERA) allowed four earned runs over seven innings at the Dodgers last Saturday. He hadn’t allowed more than three earned in his prior nine outings (eight quality starts). The 25-year-old righty leads the team in ERA and should have more wins.

The Giants are 8-2 in Cain’s last 10 starts. They won that last road start at L.A. (5-4). However, they’re just 5-9 in his road starts for the season (3.68 ERA). Batters are hitting .258 against him away as opposed to .199 at home.

Cain is 0-2 with a 4.34 ERA in three starts against San Diego this year. He pitched good in the two starts at Petco Park (3.00 ERA) and is 1-5 with a 2.90 ERA lifetime there. San Francisco is 0-3 in his starts versus San Diego this year and 3-13 in the last 16.

Jon Garland (13-10, 3.31 ERA) is trying to finish strong in what’s been a solid season overall. He had a 2.15 ERA through May, 5.16 from June-July, and 2.55 since.

The 30-year-old righty loves to pitch at home with an ERA (2.68) much lower than away (4.04). He did only last 4 2/3 innings at home against Colorado on Saturday. He allowed two earned runs and the Rockies won 6-2.

Garland has surprisingly only faced the Giants once this season (April 21). He surrendered one earned run over seven innings in a 5-2 win. He’s only made four lifetime starts against them (3-0, 2.15 ERA).

San Diego has position players Jerry Hairston (elbow) and Tony Gwynn (hand) on the DL. However, neither has an OPS above .667 and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.916) is the only regular with an OPS above .804.

San Francisco’s only listed injury is outfielder Mark DeRosa (wrist), who is out for the season.

First pitch on Thursday night is 7:05 p.m. (PT). Weather should be clear and only in the low 60s.