San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions May 12th 2025

D-backs Look to Rebound Against Verlander, Giants in NL West Showdown

After navigating a grueling stretch against some of the league’s best teams, the Arizona Diamondbacks will aim to reset and regain their footing Monday night as they open a three-game series against division rival San Francisco. But waiting on the mound for them will be three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, still searching for his first win in a Giants uniform.

Both Teams Reeling, Looking to Reset

Arizona (9-13 over its last 22 games) has faced a brutal schedule, clashing with contenders like the Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies. Sunday’s 8-1 loss to Los Angeles marked the end of that gauntlet—but also served as a sobering reminder that consistency has been hard to come by. The D-backs have alternated wins and losses over their last nine contests.

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Meanwhile, the Giants limp home after a crushing three-game sweep in Minnesota, all one-run losses. Sunday’s walk-off defeat was particularly painful, as San Francisco blew leads of 3-0 and 6-5, the latter entering the bottom of the 10th.

“Sometimes baseball is a cruel game… We have to go home and pick our heads up, play well at home like we have.”
— Bob Melvin, Giants Manager

Despite the sweep, the Giants have won their last three home series and are hoping Oracle Park remains their safe haven.

Verlander Still Seeking First Giants Win

Justin Verlander (0-2, 4.50 ERA) has had a rocky start in San Francisco, still winless through eight appearances despite showing flashes of vintage form. His most recent outing saw him exit with a 5-3 lead over the Cubs, only for the bullpen to squander it in an eventual 14-5 extra-inning win.

Verlander has had decent success against Arizona over his 20-year career (5-2, 3.14 ERA in eight starts), but the last time he faced them—in 2024 while with Houston—he gave up eight earned runs in just three innings.

For those eyeing MLB pitcher trends and betting picks, Verlander’s current winless streak and previous trouble with Arizona make this a storyline to watch.

Kelly Takes the Hill for Arizona

Right-hander Merrill Kelly (3-2, 4.09 ERA) will counter for the Diamondbacks. He’s coming off a solid start to the season and has pitched well against San Francisco in his career, holding a 7-5 record with a 3.30 ERA in 19 starts.

He and Verlander faced off once before, with both putting in strong performances in a 1-0 Astros win in 2023.

Arizona may benefit from some strategic rest heading into this pivotal series. Manager Torey Lovullo sat key contributors Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. over the weekend to keep them fresh for this stretch.

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“We’re going to get into a real good rhythm here…”
— Torey Lovullo, D-backs Manager

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Can the D-backs Capitalize on a Slumping San Francisco?

With the Giants vulnerable and Verlander still finding his rhythm, Arizona has an opportunity to strike first in this NL West battle. Expect a close, low-scoring duel with playoff-type energy—and possibly some sharp betting value in the matchups.