Giants vs. Diamondbacks prediction, odds and likely pitchers for Monday, September 23 (

The Arizona Diamondbacks are fighting for a place in the playoffs in the final week of the MLB regular season.

Arizona is only two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the battle for the last wildcard spot in the National League and is tied with the New York Mets for second place (without a tiebreaker).

After reaching the World Series last season, Arizona is reluctant to miss the 2024 playoffs and will have to settle for a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.

The Giants are out of the playoff race, but with a 77-79 record, they could be the spoilers for a division rival in this final week.

Here's a breakdown of the odds, key players to watch, and my top pick for Monday's NL West clash.

Opportunities via DraftKings Sportsbook.

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San Francisco Giants

Hayden Birdsong: In 14 starts, the Giants rookie has led his team to a 5-9 record, posting a 4.74 ERA and a 4.94 fielding independent pitching average. Birdsong lasted just three innings against the D-backs earlier this month, allowing three hits, two runs and five walks in that matchup.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Ketel Marte: Marte may be the best hitter in baseball right now. Over the last week, he's batting .348/.500/.913 while hitting four home runs in just six starts. He hit a home run last night, and Marte has been good from both sides of the bat this season, hitting 18 home runs against right-handers and 17 against left-handers in 2024.

This game is a good choice for an OVER bet due to the pairing of starting pitchers.

Birdsong struggled in his start against the D-Backs earlier this month, allowing at least two runs in 10 of his 14 starts.

Similarly, Rodriguez has allowed at least two runs in seven of his eight games in 2024 and has an overall ERA of 5.09.

The Giants are also one of the better teams in the MLB against left-handers, ranking 10th in OPS.

Arizona is the No. 1 team in MLB (89-61-6 this season) and the D-Backs lead the league in runs per game (5.52).

With a playoff spot technically on the line this final week, I expect Arizona's offense to be at full steam against a young pitcher like Birdsong. The last time these teams met, they combined for 10 runs and Arizona won 6-4.

Don't be shocked if this happens again on Monday.

Selection: OVER 9 (-102)

The odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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