The 2022 MLB season continues with 15 games on Friday’s schedule, including the National League showdown at Oracle Park in San Francisco, so we bring you the best Reds vs. Giants betting pick and odds. 

Cincinnati and San Francisco open a three-game series in California, and the Giants are listed as -166 home favorites on BetOnline Sportsbook. The Reds, who won two of their three home games against the Giants in May, are +153 moneyline dogs with a total of 8.0 runs. 

The Reds own the worst record in the National League                                       

The 23-46 Cincinnati Reds are on a seven-game losing streak following Thursday’s 10-5 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers. They closed down a six-game home stand, getting swept by the Dodgers and Brewers in the process. 

After surrendering 18 runs in a three-game set against Milwaukee, the Reds have allowed a whopping 26 runs in three games against the Dodgers. They own the highest ERA in the majors (5.38), and the Reds’ bullpen has accounted for a miserable 5.73 ERA, 5.34 FIP, and 5.50 BB/9 across 37.2 innings of work in the last couple of weeks. 

Graham Ashcraft will get the starting call Friday in San Francisco. The 24-year-old righty is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 19/7 K/BB ratio in six starts and 33.1 innings of work in his rookie season. Ashcraft has been terrific over his first four outings, but he’s surrendered ten earned runs on 17 hits in his previous two starts (9.2 innings). 

The Giants just suffered a tough loss at the reigning champs       

The San Francisco Giants fell to 38-31 on the season following Thursday’s 7-6 defeat at the Atlanta Braves. It was their fourth loss in the last five outings, and all four came by one run. After a 4-3 defeat at the Pittsburgh Pirates this past Sunday, the Giants dropped a four-game series at Truist Park in Atlanta. 

San Francisco carries a 3.99 ERA (19th in the MLB). The Giants’ bullpen has amassed a 2.98 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 2.58 BB/9, and 1.39 HR/9 through 45.1 innings of work in the last two weeks of action. San Francisco continues to rely on its offense, scoring 4.88 runs per game (4th). 

Alex Cobb will get the nod Friday, and the 34-year-old right-hander is 3-2 with a pedestrian 5.62 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in nine starts (41.2 frames) this season. Cobb returned from a neck injury last Sunday and threw four innings of a two-run ball in a no-decision against the Pirates. 

Trends:

Cincinnati: 

  • 0-7 in the last seven games overall  

San Francisco:

  • 5-1 in the last six games at home 
  • 8-4 in the last 12 home games against Cincinnati      

Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants Pick 

Graham Ashcraft took a win in a 5-1 victory to the Giants on May 27, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings. He’ll allow a few runs this time around, and I’m backing the Giants to prevail over the slumping Reds. Ashcraft was shelled for six earned runs on eight hits in his previous start, while Cincinnati’s bullpen has been awful all season. 

I don’t trust Alex Cobb either, though he fired six frames of a two-run ball in a 6-4 victory at the Reds on May 29 while striking out eight. The Giants’ bullpen has had ups and downs, but it’s still doing a much better job than the Reds’ relievers. 

Pick: Take San Francisco Giants at -166                                

The Total:

If Graham Ashcraft and his relievers continue to struggle, the Giants will score eight runs on their own. I’m also expecting the Reds to score a couple off Alex Cobb, so give me the over on the totals. 

The over backers will need a solid performance from the Reds’ offense, which is hitting a mediocre .248/.305/.379 in the last couple of weeks. The Giants, on the other side, have 11 home runs and a .793 OPS in their last seven games. 

Pick: Go over 8.0 runs at -110