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Nationals vs. Giants Prediction and Odds for Sunday, May 1 (Cobb Gives Giants Edge)

By Joe Summers

Alex Cobb aims to give the Giants a series win over the Nationals today
Alex Cobb aims to give the Giants a series win over the Nationals today / Dustin Satloff/GettyImages
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The 14-7 San Francisco Giants host the 7-16 Washington Nationals today at 4:05 PM EST after splitting the first two games of the series.

Offense has been the story so far in this three-game tilt, with these teams combining for 23 runs in the first game and 12 yesterday.

Alex Cobb returns from the 10-day injured list to make his third start of the season for San Francisco today. He sports a 4.82 ERA so far but his 0.69 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) implies he's been unlucky.

Washington will counter with Josiah Gray, who has been solid in amassing a 4.05 ERA over four outings.

Can the Nationals win for just the second time in their last 10 games or will the Giants get a series win behind a strong outing from Cobb?

Let's take a peak at the odds from WynnBET as we analyze this Giants vs Nationals matchup:

Nationals vs Giants Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line:

  • Nationals +1.5 (-150)
  • Giants -1.5 (+125)

Moneyline:

  • Nationals: +152
  • Giants: -165

Total:

  • 7.5 (Over -115/Under -105)

Nationals vs Giants Prediction and Pick

I know he's only had two starts, but it's hard to be much better than Alex Cobb has been so far in 2022. Check out his pitching profile from Baseball Savant:

In his last seven starts of 2021, Cobb allowed no more than one run six times. He may just be really, really good now and if that's the case, good luck Washington. The Nationals have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 games and their offense should struggle again today.

I'm optimistic for Josiah Gray's future, but he's a tad inconsistent. He's excellent at generating strikeouts but struggles to prevent hard contact. The wind is blowing out to center field today and the Giants should be able to scratch some runs across the plate thanks to the hard hill balls in the wind.

Throw in that the Giants have one of the best bullpens in the league and Washington's ranks in the bottom half, and San Francisco has advantages across the board. Give me the Giants to win for the seventh time in nine games and earn a series victory over the Nationals.

Pick: Giants -1.5 (+125)

Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.

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