DBacks At Giants Series Preview

Jul 21, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher

(26) tags San Francisco Giants third baseman

(48) out during the eighth inning in a game at AT

The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants start a 4 game series Thursday night at AT&T Park. The Diamonbacks are clinging to their playoff lives with a record of 70-68. They are 12.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West with 24 games left on their schedule. The DBacks are 7 games out of the second Wild Card spot as well. Things are not looking good in the desert.

The Giants are home after completing a 10 day, 9 game road trip. They went 4-5 on the trip and avoided being swept by San Diego with a 6 home run barrage at Petco Park yesterday. Pablo Sandoval hit 3 himself, after only hitting 1 since the All Star Break heading in to that game. They now sit at 62-77, tied with the Padres for last in the division.

These two teams just met for 3 games down in Arizona. The Giants took 2 of 3 and the only loss was a walk off base hit by Eric Chavez. Tim Lincecum and Yusmeiro Petit both pitched great and the Giants outscored the DBacks 12-6 during the 3 games. The pitching matchups are a little different this time around.

On to the games.

Game 1, 7:15p:

RHP Trevor Cahill (5-10, 4.39 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Vogelsong (3-4, 5.49)

This is a rematch of last Saturday’s 4-3 Diamondbacks victory. Neither of the starters factored in to the decision. Vogelsong gave up 3 runs on 9 hits to the DBacks over 6 innings. All 3 runs were scored in the 4th inning that night so Vogey was able to limit the damage. Cahill also only gave up 3 runs. Those came in the 7th as the Giants knocked him out and tied the game.

Martin Prado has been red-hot and had 2 hits off Vogelsong last weekend. Angel Pagan has Cahill’s number. Lifetime he is 7 of 15 (.467) with a double and 2 walks against the right hander.

Game 2, 7:15p:

LHP Patrick Corbin (13-5, 2.96) vs. RHP Yusmeiro Petit (2-0, 3.12)

Sept 1, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit (52) throws during the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY SportsAgain this is a rematch from last weekend. In that game Petit set a career high with 10 strike outs in just 6 innings of work. Patrick Corbin on the other hand got hit hard by the Giants. They drove him from the game after only 5 innings having scored 5 runs on 9 hits. Petit has replaced Barry Zito in the rotation and it has made the most of his chances.

Hector Sanchez did a lot of the damage against Corbin last weekend. If Buster Posey‘s finger is still a problem Sanchez will get plenty of at bats in this series. Once again Prado is the one to have hit Petit the best getting 2 hits off him last time out.

Game 3, 6:05p:

RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-9, 4.94) vs. RHP Matt Cain (8-8, 4.43)

This game is a wild card this weekend. Cain returns from his first ever stint on the DL for this one. He was hit on the forearm by a line drive off the bat of Pirates first baseman Gaby Sanchez. It’s impressive to think that Matt Cain has been in the rotation since the end of 2005 and never missed time due to injury. It will be nice to see him on the mound again as he tries to get over the .500 mark on the season. Aug 2, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Matt Cain (18) in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. San Francisco Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants saw Brandon McCarthy back in May. They got 8 hits and 4 runs off him in 6 innings. McCarthy has also missed time this season due to injury. He was out for 2 months and may be pitching for a job next year as this season winds down.

Game 4, 1:05p:

LHP Wade Miley (9-10, 3.78) vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner (11-9, 2.91)

This will be Miley’s 3rd start at AT&T Park in 2013. In both his previous starts the DBacks lost the game. The Giants have 11 hits in 42 at bats against Miley this season. He was knocked out of his last start in the 2nd inning by the Blue Jays. His shortest start this season.

Madison Bumgarner has been the victim of no run support. We’ve seen it time and again. He’s the rock and gives the Giants his best each time he takes the ball. The Giants only average 3.39 runs in his starts. The 24-year-old is having his best season thus far for the Giants. Consider that in the September call ups, only one player is younger than Bumgarner.

Enjoy the weekend and make sure to catch some good matchups here in between football games.