Matt Cain's recent struggles are providing some extra value on his line tonight when the San Francisco Giants meet the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Arizona.
Matt Cain has not pitched well of late for the San Francisco Giants, giving up four runs in three of his last four starts, including his last two starts to the Dodgers and Rockies, both losses.
Because of his recent struggles, Cain can be had at a price you usually don’t see on him, -112. Against a team that is 21 games under .500? Especially surprising.
In his last start against Arizona, Cain pitched very well, giving up only one earned run in seven innings pitched. San Francisco went on to win the game 5-4. This season the Arizona Diamondbacks are hitting a microscopic .206 against Cain, as he has started three games against them this year and pitched 20.1 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 2.66 ERA.
Cain has fared well over the course of his career against the D-Backs. In 13 starts against them, Cain has pitched 84 innings and compiled a 3.21 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a .213 batting average. A trip to Arizona may be just what the doctor ordered for getting Cain back on track.
His opponent tonight, Doug Davis, has been nothing to write home about of late either. The Diamondbacks have lost in five of his last six trips to the mound, and in all six of those trips he surrendered at least three earned runs. In four starts this season against the Giants, Davis has put together pretty mediocre numbers, going 1-2 with a 4.21 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and a .286 BAA. This is consistent with his career against the Giants, in which he is 4-7 with a 4.46 ERA, a 1.60 WHIP, and a .284 BAA in 105 innings pitched.
Taking the Giants tonight, you are getting the better pitcher who has had better past success against tonight’s opponent. And, if it ends up being a close one, you are getting the better bullpen with San Francisco, too (the Giants have the second best bullpen ERA in the league at 3.58 while the Diamondbacks rank 18th with a 4.38 ERA).
The Giants should be a heavy favorite tonight; at only -112 they look to be a bargain.
The Pick: Giants -112