MLB picks: Cubs vs. Giants, Mets vs. Padres

The two late-night games on the diamond this Thursday present the best betting opportunities of the day!

The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants series-opener leads off, with another series-opener between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres looming on deck.

Chicago Cubs (32-23) at San Francisco Giants (34-21), 9:45 p.m. ET

The Cubs’ Zach Davies should keep his stellar run of starts going against the Giants’ suddenly-shaky Anthony DeSclafani.

After a disastrous April, Davies managed to produce a 1.72 ERA in six starts this May. Davies faced San Francisco twice when he was with the Padres in 2020, and authored a 2.25 ERA.

The Washington native is backed by a Chicago bullpen that’s tallied one scoreless inning after another over the last two weeks. They own an MLB-best 0.40 ERA in that span.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers did a number on Anthony DeSclafani’s stats in 2021, accumulating 12 runs on 14 hits and seven walks in just 7 1/3 innings spread over his last two outings. As a former Cincinnati Red, DeSclafani has plenty of past experience with the Cubs, and the results have been modest – 4-3 with a 3.91 ERA in 12 career efforts.

Look for Kris Bryant and Joc Pederson – 13-for-34 (.382) combined with five home runs against DeSclafani – to generate offense in this one.

MLB pick: Cubs +108

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New York Mets (27-21) at San Diego Padres (34-23), 10:10 p.m. ET

The Mets look like live longshots against the Padres on Thursday night.

Taijuan Walker has been a revelation for New York this season, as he currently ranks fifth in the majors in ERA among qualified starters. He looked none the worse for wear last Saturday after missing a start due to side tightness, shutting out the Atlanta Braves over five innings.

Walker is 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA in five lifetime outings against San Diego, and while he’s yet to face Fernando Tatis Jr., he has held his own against Manny Machado (2-for-12, no extra-base hits). The Friars have averaged just 2.5 runs per game over their current four-game losing streak.

Yu Darvish responds for the Padres, fresh off his worst outing of the season (five innings, four runs allowed against the Houston Astros). He happens to be facing two Mets hitters that he’s struggled against in Francisco Lindor and James McCann (7-for-14, one homer, seven RBI) at about the worst time possible. Lindor and McCann are a combined 18-for-47 (.383) with three homers and 10 RBI over the last week.

MLB pick: Mets +155