Published Apr 9, 5:04pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 9, 5:04pm ET
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| Baltimore Orioles | -115 |
| San Francisco Giants | +104 |
The Giants lost 8 of their first 11 games, causing fear that their season was going to rapidly go down the tubes. They made substantive changes over the winter, including hiring Tony Vitello as their new manager. Vitello has never played, coached, or managed professionally. He had a long and successful career in the college ranks with the University of Tennessee.
After losing 4 straight, they salvaged the final 2 games of their series against the Phillies, winning consecutive shutouts.
Landen Roupp makes the start.
The righty's first start of the season against the Padres, Roupp threw 6 shutout innings, allowed 2 hits, walked 2, and struck out 7. In his second start against the Mets, he threw 4.2 innings, allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits, walked 1, and struck out 7.
The Giants' hitting has picked up in recent days, but significant portions of the lineup are still struggling. Patrick Bailey is batting .147, Heliot Ramos is at .191, Harrison Bader is hitting .114, Jung Hoo Lee is batting .143, and Rafael Devers is at .220.
Matt Chapman is batting .300 with an .812 OPS. Willy Adames has been hot and is uptight to .260.
For the Giants against Shane Baz, Luis Arraez is hitting .333 with a homer. Adames is 1 for 3. Devers is 0 for 10 with a walk and 5 K's.
The Orioles made a long-term commitment to Shane Baz, signing him to a 5-year, $68 million extension through 2030. It's a leap of faith for a pitcher who has good stuff, but has been up-and-down in his career.
In 2025 with the Rays, Baz had a 0.5 bWAR in 31 starts. He posted a 4.87 ERA, allowed 158 hits in 166.1 innings, walked 64, and struck out 176.
This season with Baltimore, he has a 4.09 ERA in 2 starts, allowing 11 hits and 5 earned runs in 11 innings. He's walked 3 and struck out 9.
Key Orioles bats are off to a slow start. Pete Alonso is batting .188 with 1 homer. Coby Mayo is hitting .133. Colton Cowser is batting .182.
Gunnar Henderson has an .890 OPS and 4 homers. Taylor Ward is searing hot, leading the AL in hits and MLB in doubles, batting .383 with a 1.039 OPS.
The O's have almost no experience against Roupp. Alonso is 1 for 1 with a single. Tyler O'Neill is 0 for 1. Ward is 0 for 3 with 2 K's.
The Giants should enter Baltimore feeling better about themselves after back-to-back shutout wins over the heavy-hitting Phillies. The key in Baltimore is if they get a solid start from Loupp.
Baz has been his inconsistent self so far this season. Expect the Giants to continue their burgeoning hot streak and take the first game of their series in Baltimore.
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Pick
San Francisco Giants +104
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