MLB Picks: San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals

The San Francisco Giants (34-19) and St. Louis Cardinals (29-24) will open up a four-game National League series Thursday night at Busch Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET

San Francisco Giants vs. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals SP Jaime Garcia will be making his third appearance in 2014 Thursday night

San Francisco has won six of its last seven games, including a 5-0 shut out victory over the Chicago Cubs as -152 home favorites Wednesday, while going UNDER the betting total in two consecutive contests. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is the main player to watch offensively, as he’s hit .375 with three home runs and nine RBIs during an eight-game stretch versus the Red Birds, which includes postseason action. San Francisco is 5-3 as road underdogs of +100 to +125 this season, with the UNDER going 5-2-1 in that situation.

Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (3-2, 3.20 ERA) has registered back-to-back wins, including a 2-1 home victory over the Minnesota Twins last time out, as he scattered just three hits over 6.2 shutout innings. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA in four road appearances, with opposing hitters batting .307 against him. Vogelsong has compiled a 1-1 record and 3.12 ERA in his last three efforts versus the Cardinals.

St. Louis has alternated wins and losses over its last four contests, as it looks to bounce back from a 7-4 setback to the New York Yankees as -128 home favorites Wednesday, while going OVER the betting total of 7.5. The Cardinals won four of six meetings against the Giants in 2013—outscoring them by a sizable 37-12 margin. Offensively, the club is expecting first baseman Matt Adams back in the lineup after sitting out yesterday with hamstring tightness, as he leads the NL with 21 multi-hit games. St. Louis is 17-6 following a loss during the 2014 campaign.

Cardinals starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (1-0, 4.26 ERA) will take the mound for just the third time this season, as he comes off a 6-3 road victory over the Cincinnati Reds, while he’s yet to issue a walk in 12.2 combined frames overall. The left-hander has put together a 2-1 record and 1.27 ERA in his career against the Giants.