Padres vs. Giants 4/12 Pitching Matchup, Prediction & Best Bets

After yet another solid effort from their pitching staff led to a series-opening win in San Francisco, the San Diego Padres look to secure a series win over the Giants tonight.

Over the first five games of the new MLB season, the Padres have allowed only 13 runs and posted a 2.66 ERA as a team. The five pitchers who have started/opened for San Diego have combined for a 1.00 ERA, allowing only three runs in 27 innings pitched.

Last night, Nick Martinez, who was making his first MLB appearance since 2017, allowed only one run in five innings, and the Padres scored runs in the seventh and ninth to claim a 4-2 win over the rival Giants.

Tonight, it’s back to the front of the rotation for San Diego, as Yu Darvish takes the hill for his second start of the season.

Darvish pitched six no-hit innings and was in line for a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Day, but the bullpen imploded in the ninth to hand the Diamondbacks the win. Will fortune favor the five-time All-Star hurler tonight?

San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants April 12 MLB Betting Odds, Pitching Matchup, and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Game Matchup: San Diego Padres (4-1, 1st in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (2-2, 3rd in the NL West)
• Venue & Location: Oracle Park (San Francisco, California)
• Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2022
• Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Padres vs. Giants Tonight: TBS

Padres vs. Giants Probable Starting Pitchers

• San Diego Padres: Yu Darvish (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• San Francisco Giants: Alex Cobb (first 2022 start – 8-3, 3.76 ERA in 18 starts for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021)

Padres vs. Giants April 12 Betting Odds (as of 5 p.m. ET)

• Moneyline: San Diego Padres -110, San Francisco Giants -106
• Total: OVER 7.5 (-102), UNDER 7.5 (-120)
• Run Line: San Diego Padres -1.5 (+146), San Francisco Giants +1.5 (-178)

Odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook.

San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants April 12 Prediction and Best Bet

Prediction: San Diego Padres to win

Best Bet: Padres ML (-110 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

It remains to be seen if the Padres can keep this up, but I’m riding with the hot hand while it’s sizzling.

Historically, Darvish has had the most success in March & April. In 40 career starts in March and April, Darvish is 18-10 with a 3.00 ERA.

Last year, in his first season with the Padres, he was 3-1 with a 2.13 ERA in six April starts, and he recorded 49 strikeouts and 11 walks in 38 IP. His WHIP in April 2021 was 0.895, a career-low for the March/April stretch of the season.

On the other hand, Cobb is historically a slow starter, and March/April is his worst stretch. In 23 career starts in that period, he is 6-11 with a 5.39 ERA and a WHIP of 1.51.

All of those numbers are the worst of any stretch of the season. He has a losing record in only two stretches–March/April and June–and an ERA of 5.00+ in only two stretches (also March/April and June).

The move to San Francisco may bring better results for Cobb, just as it did for Kevin Gausman, Anthony DeSclafani, and Alex Wood. But the Padres are the better bet for tonight’s matchup, and today’s MLB picks, which heavily favor the Padres, back that up as well.

Best Prop Pick: Eric Hosmer to have 2+ hits (+250 at BetOnline Sportsbook)

After going 1 for 4 in the season opener against the Diamondbacks, Hosmer has gone 7 for 11 in three games, recording multiple hits in each game. Last night, he was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk.

His good start should continue tonight against a pitcher he has had success against. In his MLB career, Hosmer is 6 for 17 (.353) against Cobb with a double, two homers, and four RBI.

Also, Hosmer, who bats left-handed, is a much better hitter against righties like Cobb than he is against southpaws. He is a career .291 hitter against righties, while he is a .251 hitter against lefties.