Sometimes there's value in a big favorite. That's the way I see this matchup. Reynaldo Lopez may be the most underrated pitcher in baseball right now. Atlanta is 10-3 in his last 13 starts. Lopez has a 1.70 ERA. He's 2 2/3 innings short of leading the majors in ERA.

Lopez is backed by a stellar Atlanta defense that has committed the fewest errors.

The Giants are going with rookie Hayden Birdsong, who has a 5.79 ERA after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Cubs last Wednesday in his big league debut.