The San Francisco Giants continue a midwest swing as they travel from Minnesota to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers at the start of a four-game weekend series. The pitching matchup for Thursday night will feature Giants' left-hander Scott Alexander (4-0, 4.43). As for the Brewers, the team is currently strapped at starting pitcher with Eric Lauer, the scheduled starter for Thursday, sent to the IL on Monday. Expect a bullpen game for the Brewers on Thursday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:40 PM EST.
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Make a Move
The San Francisco Giants have started to make a move in the NL West standings as they push back toward .500 on the season. The Giants have won seven of their last ten games and took the first two games of the series in Minnesota heading into the finale on Wednesday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Giants' defense made three errors to extend innings and never recovered from an early deficit to lose out on a chance to sweep the first-place Twins. Starter Anthony DeSclafani went five innings and allowed seven runs, only four of which were earned, to drop to 3-4 on the season.
Filth for the finish 🤢 pic.twitter.com/9KYPeMTdpj
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 24, 2023
The Giants hope to keep on winning on Thursday night when they hand the ball to left-hander Scott Alexander. Alexander is 4-0 on the season, all out of the bullpen. He has made 21 appearances this season thus far and has not gone more than an inning and a third in any of his outings. This will be his first time serving as an opener for the Giants this season. Manager Gabe Kapler has begun to employ an opener more frequently this season, particularly when using former starter Sean Manaea. Manaea has struggled to start games so Kapler has started using an opener during his turn in the rotation. With starting pitcher Ross Stripling on the IL, Alexander will be used here affording ace Logan Webb an extra days rest.
Key Injuries: C Joey Bart and DH Joc Peterson are day's
Ailing Brew Crew
The Milwaukee Brewers remain just ahead of the Pirates in the NL Central Division standings but have been playing inconsistent baseball as of late. The team is 5-5 in their last ten games heading into their series finale with surging Houston on Wednesday afternoon. The Brewers split the first two games of the series with Houston, including a 6-0 shutout win on Tuesday night. On Wednesday afternoon, starting pitcher Adrian Houser pitched 5.1 innings of shutout baseball to pick up his first win of the season and earn the Brewers a series win over the surging Astros. Nearly all the Brewers' scoring came via the long ball with Willy Adames hitting a two-run shot and Owen Miller, Brian Anderson and Ryan Jeffers each hitting solo shots in the win.
OWEN MILLER>>>#ThisIsMyCrew | @OwenMiller8 pic.twitter.com/18o9pEChn7
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 24, 2023
The Milwaukee Brewers will have to survive a rough stretch here without four of their projected starting pitchers to begin the season available. Starters Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley, and Aaron Ashby were joined on the injured list Monday by Eric Lauer, who will miss time with a shoulder injury to his non-throwing hand that is affecting his mechanics. The Brewers called up righty Tyson Miller to take Lauer's place on the roster, although they haven't committed to him making the start on Thursday. Miller has been a starter in the past but he's been used exclusively as a multi-inning reliever this season. He's made three appearances for the Brewers this season and allowed a run in 4.2 innings of work.
Key Injuries: 1B Luke Voit is out along with the four starting pitchers.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
This should be an interesting matchup with both teams employing starters that will serve mainly as openers in this contest. The Giants are playing very well at the moment with seven wins in their last nine games and have held the opposition to less than three runs per game during that stretch. The Brewers have struggled with consistency as of late and are just 5-5 in their last ten games. I like the opportunistic Giants to pull this game out in a likely battle of bullpens in Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Take the Giants with the money line.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Even amidst their current stretch of good play, the Giants' offense has been relatively quiet. The Giants have gone under the total in six of their last nine games heading into the afternoon game in Minnesota on Wednesday. The Giants are scoring just over three runs per game in their last nine games and hitting just .227 during that span. The Brewers are scoring just 3.5 runs in their last ten games and hitting .226 in that time. Look for another low-scoring affair between two teams that are struggling to string hits together as of late.
Take the under.