TEXAS vs. SAN FRANCISCO 8/26/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The San Francisco Giants aim to pick up consecutive home wins for the first time since before the All-Star break when they take on the Texas Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday afternoon. Brandon Crawford slugged a three-run homer to support seven scoreless innings by Andrew Suarez as the Giants picked up a 5-3 win Saturday.

San Francisco catcher Buster Posey was on deck when the bottom of the eighth inning came to an end, which also finished the year for the former MVP, who leaves the team Sunday to have season-ending hip surgery. Rougned Odor accounted for the Rangers’ offense with a three-run homer in the eighth, his second of the series. He also has a home run in four career at-bats against Derek Holland, who starts Sunday for the Giants against his former team. Texas, which is 3-11 all-time at AT&T Park, counters with veteran Yovani Gallardo.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (7-2, 6.06 ERA) vs. Giants LH Derek Holland (6-8, 3.75)

Gallardo’s 300th career start last Sunday was a pretty good one, as he held the Los Angeles Angels to two runs over six innings. He is 4-1 with a 3.66 ERA over his last six starts, the last four of which took place at home. Andrew McCutchen is batting .345 with four home runs, three doubles and two triples in his career against the 32-year-old Gallardo, who is 6-4 with a 3.21 ERA in 10 matchups with the Giants.

Holland won 62 games over eight seasons with the Rangers and is 13-22 in two years since he left the organization. He allowed one run while striking out 12 in 9 2/3 innings combined over his last two starts but received a no-decision both times. The Ohio native faced the Rangers twice in 2017 and was rocked for 12 runs across eight innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Posey will have the surgery in Colorado and is expected to miss 6-8 months.

2. Rangers INF Hanser Alberto (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and the club purchased the contract of C Carlos Perez from Triple-A Round Rock.

3. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre is 0-for-1 with a walk in the series and remains one hit shy of matching Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn (3,141) for 18th on the all-time list.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Rangers 4