Diamondbacks vs Giants Pick: NL West Rivals Meet in San Fran (May 12)

• Our Diamondbacks vs Giants pick analyzes two NL West rivals who are falling behind the division-leading Padres and Dodgers
• Arizona has tried to keep pace, but in one of MLB‘s toughest divisions, it’s getting harder
• San Francisco was just swept in a 3-game series by the Twins
• Two veteran righties, Merrill Kelly and Justin Verlander, start for Arizona and San Francisco, respectively

D-Backs Venture to the Bay After Splitting 4 in LA

The Diamondbacks had a chance to take 3 of 4 from the division frontrunner and defending World Series champion Dodgers on Sunday. They had one of their best starters, Zac Gallen, on the hill. But LA pounded him for 10 hits and 4 runs in 5.2 innings and cruised to an 8-1 victory.

Now, Arizona sends veteran Merrill Kelly to the mound for their first game in San Francisco.

The 36-year-old Kelly has pitched well, apart from one terrible start against the Yankees. He’s reliable enough to expect at least 5 solid innings from him.

For the Giants against Kelly, Willy Adames is 7 for 19 with 2 home runs. Wilmer Flores is 5 for 22 with 2 doubles and a home run. Luis Matos is 2 for 6 with a homer. LaMonte Wade Jr. is 6 for 35 with 2 homers. And Mike Yastrzemski is 9 for 40 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 3 home runs.

The D-Backs have been struggling at the plate in general. But Pavin Smith stayed hot against LA and has a slash of .313/.447/.535 with 4 homers.

Future Hall of Famer Verlander is Having a Good Comeback Season

Justin Verlander had an injury-plagued season with the Astros in 2024 and is having a solid comeback in San Francisco. Although he has a high ERA of 4.50, he has kept the Giants in most of his starts and held opponents to 3 or fewer runs except for two starts in which he surrendered 5 to the Reds and 4 to the Phillies.

Against Verlander, Smith is 3 for 6 with 2 homers. Eugenio Suarez is 5 for 28 with a home run. Josh Naylor is 3 for 11. Corbin Carroll is 0 for 8.

The Giants are hitting a fair share of home runs, but are not hitting for a high batting average. Matt Chapman has 8 homers and a .225 BA. Wade is batting .145. Patrick Bailey is at .181. Flores has 7 homers and a .705 OPS. Yastrzemski has an .823 OPS and 5 homers.

Diamondbacks vs Giants Pick: SF Will Break Its Skid Behind Verlander

The pitching matchup is relatively even, with Verlander aging and Kelly consistently keeping the D-Backs in the games he starts. The Giants hit Kelly well, and the Giants should rebound from their lost weekend against the Twins. They will win behind Verlander.