San Francisco Giants vs Arizona Diamond Backs Series Preview

The San Francisco Giants open up their 2017 season against the Arizona Diamond Backs. We take a look at the pitching matchups, potential lineups, and who to keep an eye on for each team.

The San Francisco Giants should be quite eager to start off their 2017 season. The end of their 2016 season came with quite the bad taste in their mouths, as they blew a 5-2 lead against the eventual World Series Champion, the Chicago Cubs.

To start off 2017, they head right back to the desert to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for their first three games of the year. They will actually have Monday off (I really don’t know why, ask MLB) so the series will start today, and resume on Tuesday, with the final game on Wednesday. Here is how the pitching match-ups will go:

• 4/2- Madison Bumgarner vs. Zack Greinke
• 4/4- Johnny Cueto vs. Patrick Corbin
• 4/5- Matt Moore vs. Taijuan Walker
• 4/6-Jeff Samardzija vs. Robbie Ray

These pitching match-ups are all quite good. Taijun Walker makes his first start in the National League, after spending most of his time with the Seattle Mariners. Another guy to keep an eye on is Patrick Corbin. Corbin was lights out in 2014, then had to undergo Tommy John surgery. After missing most of 2015, Corbin wasn’t really in full form for 2016. This spring, he started to look like his old self. We will have to see if that carries over to 2016. Of course, not much needs to be said about Bumgarner vs Greinke either. It’s a matchup of true aces, and one deserving of its opening day slot.

The lineup for the Giants will likely look similar to what we saw in the pre-season games at AT&T Park. Expect Belt in the second spot, and Chris Marrero and Jarrett Parker to platoon the left field spot depending on the matchup. Parker will likely play Sunday and Wednesday if they hold true to that.

One player to look out for is the return of AJ Pollock. He missed a lot of time in 2017, and is a vital part of Arizona’s offense. His speed, and on-base threat is something that they missed, especially with the trade of Ender Inciarte to Atlanta. Another guy to keep an eye on is Jake Lamb, the “Giants Killer.” He was more of a Casilla Killer, but still. Goldschmidt will always get attention too.

Next: Preview of NL West Opponents: The D'Backs

It is time to be excited! Baseball is back. Today’s game will have first pitch at 1:10 pacific time! Be sure to tune in!