As the final week of the MLB regular season unfolds, the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a precarious battle for postseason survival. Currently, they hold a slim two-game advantage over the Atlanta Braves for the last wild-card spot in the National League, while also being tied with the New York Mets for the No. 2 wild-card position—but lacking the tiebreaker.
After reaching the World Series last season, the Diamondbacks are keen to avoid missing the playoffs in 2024. To secure their chance, they must clinch a victory on Monday against the San Francisco Giants.
Although the Giants have already been eliminated from playoff contention, their record of 77-79 affords them an opportunity to play spoiler—particularly against a division rival—during this critical week.
Key Players to Monitor: Giants vs DiamondbacksSan Francisco Giants
Hayden Birdsong: In his 14 starts this season, the rookie pitcher has led the Giants to a 5-9 record, sporting a 4.74 ERA alongside a 4.94 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). In a previous outing against the Diamondbacks earlier this month, Birdsong struggled, lasting only three innings while yielding three hits, two earned runs, and a staggering five walks.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Ketel Marte: Marte is arguably the most formidable hitter in baseball at this moment. Over the past week, he has been a powerhouse, boasting a .348 batting average with an impressive .500 on-base percentage and .913 slugging percentage, including four home runs in just six games. He homered last night, showcasing his ability to perform against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers—hitting 18 homers off righties and 17 off lefties this season.
Giants vs Diamondbacks Prediction and Best Bet
Given the starting pitching matchup, this game presents an appealing opportunity for an OVER bet.
Birdsong’s prior performance against the Diamondbacks was dismal, as he has allowed at least two runs in 10 of his 14 starts. Similarly, Rodriguez has struggled this season, conceding two or more runs in seven of his eight outings, with an overall ERA of 5.09.
Moreover, the Giants rank among the top teams in MLB when facing left-handed pitchers, currently sitting 10th in OPS. The Diamondbacks lead the league as the top OVER team this season (89-61-6) and are averaging an impressive 5.52 runs per game.
With playoff aspirations hanging in the balance this week, expect the Diamondbacks’ offense to aggressively attack a young pitcher like Birdsong. In their last encounter, these teams combined for 10 runs in a 6-4 victory for Arizona.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see a similar outcome on Monday.
