The Cleveland Indians (11-11) and San Francisco Giants (12-10) will open up a interleague series Friday night at AT&T Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET
Cleveland Indians vs. San Francisco Giants
Cleveland has won four of its last five games, including a 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals as -126 home favorites Thursday, while going UNDER the betting total of 7. The Indians won’t be able to use the designated hitter in a NL ballpark this weekend, but those players have hit .190 for manager Terry Francona in the early going this season. Leadoff hitter Michael Bourn is important to handicap in this affair, as he’s gone 4 for 7 against tonight’s opposing starting pitcher. Cleveland is 2-3 as road underdogs of +125 to +150 this season.
Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (0-2, 7.31 ERA) didn’t earn a decision in a 6-4 home win over the Toronto Blue Jays last time out, as he surrendered four runs and six hits over 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.66 ERA in nine career April starts, with opposing hitters batting .309 against him. Carrasco allowed four runs (one earned) and six hits in his only career effort versus the Giants.
San Francisco returns home after going 2-4 on its recently completed six-game road trip, which ended with a 12-10 victory over the Colorado Rockies as -102 underdogs Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 9.5. The Giants will be playing their first non-division opponent of the season, as their first 22 games came against NL West opponents. The franchise owned baseball’s second-worst 2013 interleague record at 6-14. San Francisco is 7-4 versus right-handed starters, with the OVER going 8-3 in that situation.
Giants starting pitcher Tim Hudson (2-1, 2.40 ERA) suffered his first loss of the season last time out, as he surrendered two runs and eight hits in seven innings of work in a 3-1 road defeat to the San Diego Padres. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA in two home outings—issuing no walks and striking out nine batters. In eight career appearances versus the Indians, Hudson has tallied a 1-2 record and 6.33 ERA.
Sports bettors will likely back the Indians due to the Giants being 1-6 in their last seven interleague games as a favorite.
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