Toronto (41-49) at San Francisco (44-47)
When: Tuesday, July 9th 2024
Where: Oracle Park,
San Francisco, CA
Time: 9:45 ET | TV: MLB.tv
Opening Odds: San Francisco -120/7.5
The San Francisco Giants begin a six-game homestand that takes them right up to the All-Star Break when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night. The Giants are still in the NL wild card hunt, but can’t seem to get over .500. They were 44-45 before dropping the final two games of a road trip at the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend. Blake Snell makes his return for the Giants on Tuesday and will be opposed by the struggling Yesei Kikuchi.
The Blue Jays are having a terrible season, completely under-performing, especially on offense. However, the bats came alive over the weekend in Seattle, as the Jays recorded a couple of 5-4 victories over the Mariners to take their first series since the middle of June. Spencer Horwitz went 3-for-5 on Sunday and leads the club with a .329 average. Toronto took two-of-three from the Giants last season at home, limiting San Fran to just 5 total runs.
Pitching Matchup
Blue Jays – Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, 4.12)
Giants – Blake Snell (0-3, 9.51)
Kikuchi had a solid start to the season, but it’s been a rough ride since the middle of May. The lefty has a 6.50 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP over his last eight starts. That includes a decent outing last time out when he surrendered two runs over 5.2 innings against the Houston Astros. Kikuchi has faced the Giants only once in his career, allowing three runs over six innings when with the Mariners.
Snell is not the same pitching who took home the 2023 NL Cy Young Award with San Diego. The Giants signed him in the offseason to a huge contract and he’s responded by going 0-3 with a 9.51 ERA and 1.94 WHIP in six starts. Snell has been on the IL with a groin injury and will be making his first start since June 2 against the Yankees. He has a 2.74 career ERA against Toronto and has allowed more than two runs just twice in his 14 starts against them.
Neither pitcher is performing well, but I trust Snell more than Kikuchi. I also trust the San Fran lineup more than Toronto. The Blue Jays rank near the bottom of the league in many offensive categories. Oracle Park is a pitcher’s park and the Jays will struggle to score.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for today.
Pick: Giants -120
