Series Preview: San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres

Apr 19, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera (2) is tagged out by San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28) trying to score on a ball hit to Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants are hoping for a little better play (and luck) against the San Diego Padres when they roll into AT&T Park today for a three game series to finish out the first full month of baseball. In their first meeting, just a week and a half ago, the Padres took 2 of 3 in San Diego.

Here’s what the pitching match-ups look like:

Monday: Tyson Ross (2-3, 3.16 ERA) vs Madison Bumgarner (2-2, 3.14 ERA)
Tuesday: Eric Stults (1-2, 4.15 ERA) vs. Matt Cain (0-3, 4.35 ERA)
Wednesday: Robbie Erlin (1-3, 6.35 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson (3-1, 2.19 ERA)

With our top three pitchers on the mound this series, the Giants really just need to do one thing: Score freakin’ runs!

I’m not worried too much about the pitching match-ups. I know that Bumgarner, Cain, and Hudson can go head-to-head with any of these guys on the mound for the Padres. Pitching really is not the issue for the Giants. Yeah, there are some struggles here and there, but with good hitting, our pitching would look a whole lot better.

By the way guys, get Matt Cain a win this week.

Here’s how the hitting is looking in the past 7 days – The Good:

Hunter Pence: Finally has broken free and hit .478 with 1 home run, 5 RBIs, and a 1.321 OPS
Michael Morse: He’s only hitting .250 in the past week, but that included 3 home runs, 6 RBIs, and a .938 OPS
Hector Sanchez: He only had 8 at-bats, and hit .250, but he made good with the hits he did have – 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, and 1.250 OPS

Here’s how the hitting is looking in the past 7 days – The Bad:

Brandon Belt: 12 strikeouts, .167 average, .231 on-base % – Friday night, he struck out 3 times. I have to wonder how much longer he’ll be in the 3-hole if this continues
Pablo Sandoval: .211 average, and 0 RBIs. Yep, that’s a big, fat (no pun intended) ZERO.
Buster Posey: Hitting .235 and 1 RBI (off his solo home run)

On the plus side, the Padres didn’t have such a hot week from the plate. Only three of their position players hit above .250 – Nick Hundley (.455), Chris Denorfia (.393), & Seth Smith (.286)

Home runs in past week? Padres – 2, Giants – 10 (Granted, the Giants did play in Colorado in the past week)

Keys to winning? Like we said before, the Giants will need to put some runs on the board, and they’re going to need contribution from Sandoval, Posey, and Belt. Those three guys (particularly Posey and Pablo) HAVE to pick it up if the Giants are going to have a successful season. I give Belt a little slack because while he’s in a bad slump, he’s had an overall good season.