On Saturday, the Sacramento Athletics (22-21) face off against the San Francisco Giants (25-19) at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

San Francisco enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped four of their last five games prior to their series opener against Sacramento. In an 8-7 defeat against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jung Hoo Lee provided some offense for the San Francisco Giants by going 1-for-5 at the plate. His hit was a home run, and he contributed two runs batted in while crossing the plate himself for one run scored. Looking at the season overall, Matt Chapman has been San Francisco's top slugger, leading the team with eight home runs. Right behind him are Heliot Ramos and Wilmer Flores, who have both hit seven homers this year. Flores also leads the club in RBIs, having driven in a team-high 33 runs so far. When it comes to batting average, Heliot Ramos has set the pace for the Giants with a robust .288 mark, making him their most consistent hitter. Defensively, the team has had recent struggles, giving up an average of five runs per game over their last five matchups. This has left the Giants 3.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings as they aim to tighten up their play. Offensively, the Giants have been steady, scoring an average of 4.8 runs per game throughout the season. As they return to their home field, the team is hoping to shake off their defensive lapses and get back on track with a strong victory.

Sacramento enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games prior to their series opener against San Francisco. In their 9-3 defeat against the Dodgers, Tyler Soderstrom was a bright spot for the Athletics, going 2-for-4 at the plate, launching a home run, scoring once, and collecting two RBIs. Soderstrom and Brent Rooker are currently tied for the most home runs on the Sacramento roster this season, each having hit ten homers. Not far behind is Shea Langeliers, who has connected for eight home runs so far this year. Soderstrom also leads the team in RBIs, driving in a team-best 29 runs up to this point. When it comes to batting average, Jacob Wilson stands out for Sacramento, boasting an impressive .354 mark over the season. However, the Athletics have struggled on the mound recently, surrendering an average of 7.8 runs per game over their last five contests. As a result, Sacramento finds themselves trailing Seattle by a game and a half for the top spot in the AL West standings. Looking ahead, the Athletics will hope to shore up their pitching staff as they prepare for an upcoming series on the road against the San Francisco Giants. Offensively, Sacramento has averaged 4.5 runs per game overall this season, but they will need improved performances on the mound to stay competitive in the race for first place.

MLB Best Bets and Odds for May 18, 2025