San Francisco Giants Continue Homestand With Four Against Miami Marlins

Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco Giants (26-15, first in the NL West) continue their homestand versus the Miami Marlins (21-20, third in the NL East) to town for a four game series.

The Marlins, having lost six straight games, come into this series having received some very bad new earlier in the week. Second year starter Jose Fernandez has been lost for the year, siginificant tear in his elbow and will most likely require Tommy John surgery. Fernandez wasn’t scheduled to pitch in this series, but his loss is a big blow to one of the seasons surprise teams.

The first game of the series is this evening, 7:15 pm PT first pitch.

The Marlins will send RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 2.86) to the mound and will be opposed by Giants RHP vs Matt Cain (0-3, 4.25).

Eovaldi, has pitched very well this season, despite his 2-1 record. In all but one start this season, his last start versus the Padres, Eovaldi has pitched into the sixth inning and has given up 3 runs or less in all but one start as well, April 12 versus Philladelphia.

Cain, who is still looking for his first win of the season, is making his second start since coming off of the disabled list this past Saturday.  In that Saturday start, Cain pitched 5 innings while giving up 2 earned runs while walking four and striking out the same versus the Dodgers.

Game 2 of the series goes tomorrow at 7:15 pm PT.

Marlins Henderson Alvarez (2-3, 3.33) vs  Giants Tim Hudson (4-2.2.09).

Alvarez has two complete game shutouts this season, April 19 versus Seattle and May 6 versus the Mets. In his last start, Sunday versus the Padres, Alvarez went 4 innings giving up 5 runs in a 5-4 loss. Of note, Alvarez threw a no-hitter last season September 29 versus the Tigers (1-0 ended on a walk off wild pitch).

In Hudson’s last start, this past Sunday versus the Dodgers, he went a season low 6 innings while giving up 2 runs on six hits in the no decision, Giants would eventually win the game in 10 innings.

Game 3 of the series is Saturday at 6:05 pm PT.

Marlins Tom Koehler (3-3, 2.57) vs Giants Tim Lincecum (3-2,4.78)

Koehler three times this year has surrendered three or less hits and 0 runs,  but in his last start on Monday versus the Dodgers he only lasted 3.2 innings while allowing 4 runs and 5 walks.

Lincecum is coming off of his best start of 2014. Monday night, Lincecum struck out a season high 11 Braves in 7.2 innings in a 2 hit 1 run game while issuing 4 walks in the win.

The series finale goes Sunday at 1:05 pm PT

Marlins  Jacob Turner (0-1,6.75) vs Giants Ryan Vogelsong (1-2,4.22)

Despite the 0-1 record, Turner hasn’t exactly been lights out this season. In 21.1 innings this season, Turner has given up 3o hits while surrendering 16 earned runs. In his last start, this past Tuesday versus the Dodgers, Turner went 5.1 allowing 4 earned runs in a 5-1 loss.

Vogelsong, in his last 4 starts, has pitched more like the Vogelsong of 2011 and 2012 instead of the one all Giants fans saw in 2013. In those 4 starts, Vogelsong has pitched a total of 26.1 innings while allowing 6 earned runs (4 of those in his last start versus the Braves on Tuesday)

As always, the one player to watch, with the Marlins, is slugger Giancarlo Stanton. For the season, Stanton is batting .325 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI. With Stanton in the middle of this lineup you always have to be careful of his power.

After an extremely slow start, Pablo Sandoval looks like he may finally be heating up with the bat, batting 8 for his last 20 (400) with 3 RBI  in his last 4 games.