San Francisco Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/27/2022

Time: 6:40 p.m. ET

Venue: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH

Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, Bally Sports Ohio

DraftKings: NL

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Giants: 24-19

Reds: 14-30

The San Francisco Giants did not make life fun on Thomas Szapucki. The poor rookie pitcher didn't even last two innings before getting smacked around by the San Francisco lineup. Four home runs, nine runs, and the Giants ended the game before it even began.

Evan Longoria blasted two of those homers to help the Giants take two of three against the red-hot Mets, and Joc Pederson hit his fourth in two games for the added effect of destroying baseballs like he has worlds over the last 48 hours.

"That's a playoff team right there," Longoria said of the Mets. "I think we're all happy with the result."

The Giants haven't gotten off to as resounding of a start as they did last season, but they're still a really good team that's just in need of somebody to hit the ball. So far, they've gotten that the last two games with Pederson going yard to follow up his three-homer game from Wednesday.

As a result, however, the Giants got a much-needed series victory and the Mets' pitching beyond their two aces being out came back to haunt them. I'm thinking the Giants should feel good heading into this weekend.

Alright, let's go ahead and take a look at the Cincinnati Reds and how they did in their series finale against the Chicago Cubs. I'd highly expect the Cubs to win another one because there's no way they could lose back-to-back embarrassing games, right?

*opens computer, checks score*

... And I'm done for the day.

TWENTY RUNS. That's a 2-0 for the Reds in a 20-5 win over the Chicago Cubs. Twenty. As in 10 multiplied by two to get the end result. Which is 20.

How about this? The Cubs had a 3-0 lead after the second, in large part due to Frank Schwindel hitting another homer to cap off his solid series. The Reds saw him hit that homer and probably laughed after they destroyed more baseballs. Because picture this: Five home runs were hit in this game. Three of them were from the Cubs.

And they lost by 15. That's how bad the Cubs have been this year.

Meanwhile for the Reds, Kyle Farmer returned after missing four games due to injury and homered twice.

“I was hurting pretty bad in Toronto, but I'm just glad it's gone now," said Farmer. “Had to take some time off, get a shot and have some rest and recovery.”

“He wants to be out there every day,” Reds manager David Bell said of his offensive MVP this time around. “That position is a real grind, and he's so important to our team. He puts a lot on himself. So getting the break, getting a few days off, he came back out today and was definitely energized.”

As great as it should feel to have the Reds put up at least three touchdowns on the Cubs, it's a different monster against the Giants. And I have no doubt that the better team should dominate this weekend. Giants win 8-2

Giants are 77-55 on the road the past three seasons.

Giants are 113-72 against right-handed starters the past three seasons.

Reds are 1-8 this season when the line is between +125 and -125.

Giants:
Darin Ruf (R) DH
Wilmer Flores (R) 1B
Mike Yastrzemski (L) RF
Evan Longoria (R) 3B
Thairo Estrada (R) 2B
Joc Pederson (L) LF
Stuart Fairchild (R) CF
Joey Bart (R) C
Donovan Walton (L) SS
Carlos Rodon (L) SP

Reds:
Nick Senzel (R) CF
Brandon Drury (R) 3B
Tommy Pham (R) DH
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Tyler Stephenson (R) C
Kyle Farmer (R) SS
Aristides Aquino (R) RF
Albert Almora Jr. (R) LF
Matt Reynolds (R) 2B
TBD SP

Batting average: Thairo Estrada -- .273

Hits: Thairo Estrada -- 42

Home runs: Joc Pederson -- 11

RBI: Wilmer Flores -- 25

Wins: Logan Webb -- 5

Saves: Camilo Doval -- 7

ERA: Carlos Rodon -- 3.43

Batting average: Tyler Naquin -- .258

Hits: Tommy Phan -- 35

Home runs: Brandon Drury -- 7

RBI: Brandon Drury -- 25

Wins: Four tied -- 2

Saves: Two tied -- 2

ERA: Tyler Mahle -- 6.32