The record shows Matt Moore to be 3-7 with a 5.82 ERA. His Giants have lost 11 of 12 and are in danger of being swept at home by the Mets.
So why get involved with the Giants especially when laying a mid-sized price?
Oddsmakers aren't stupid. There's a reason why the Giants are favored here.
Moore pitches much better at home and in day games. His road ERA is 8.39. At AT&T Park his ERA is 3.07. Moore has a 3.23 ERA in day games. His ERA at night rises to 8.02. I also like what I saw from Moore during his last start.
That was at Atlanta this past Tuesday. Moore allowed three runs in seven innings with six strikeouts and one walk in getting the victory in a 6-3 win. Moore was shelled in his prior start before beating the Braves, but that came at Coors Field.
The Mets have swept just one series this season. They caught the Giants in a bad spot during the first two games of the series because San Francisco had to fly back from Atlanta late Thursday following a long rain delay. The Giants are settled in now and embarrassed about their poor season. This is a crucial homestand for them.
The biggest thing the Giants have going today is facing Rafael Montero. The Mets are down several starters so they're forced to bring Montero in from the bullpen to make a spot start. Montero is dreadful. He's lucky to only have a 6.49 ERA considering he's given up 36 hits and 19 walks in just 26 1/3 innings.
Sunday Free Play
Orioles at Rays Over 9 1/2 Even Money
Now that Nik Turley was mercifully returned to the minors by the Twins, Chris Tillman is back in the running for worst starting pitcher in the American League.
Tillman has the highest ERA in the AL among starters at 8.39 in nine starts. Tillman has been very consistent his past five games - giving up at least five runs in each of those starts. Tillman has walked 22 and yielded nine homers in fewer than 40 innings. The Rays rank ninth in runs scored and have hit the second-most homers in baseball.
Tampa starter Jake Odorizzi has a 5.15 lifetime ERA versus Baltimore in 14 appearances, including 13 starts. The Orioles rank seventh in homers. Odorizzi has surrendered at least one home run in his last 10 appearances. A Rays pitcher hasn't had such a dubious streak since James Shields 12 years ago.
Neither bullpen is very good with the Orioles missing their injured closer, Zack Britton.
The over has cashed in 10 of Tampa's last 11 home games. Note, too, that Clint Fagen is slated to be the home plate umpire. The over has cashed 60 percent of the time he's been the home plate umpire duing the past three years, a sampling of 72 games.