Game 1: Cain vs. Billy Buckner
Should be like taking candy from a baby, Buckner has a high ERA, but he has actually had 2 good starts vs. 1 bad start. The good news is that he hasn't actually pitched that well at home and we are playing in Arizona this series. Should be a cakewalk, Cain has been dominant this season, hence his 7-1 record.
Game 2: Zito vs. Doug Davis
Both Zito and Davis have been pitching well this season. And Davis has been particularly good at home this season, while Zito has been relatively bad on the road this season. But he has actually had more good starts than bad on the road this season, especially after he turned things around after his second start. About even, but probably lose.
Game 3: Sanchez vs. Max Scherzer
Both pitchers are alternatively dominating and dominated. Strikes out a lot and walk a lot. Scherzer has pitched better than Sanchez overall this season, but Scherzer has also been absolutely horrible at home in 5 starts, 25+ IP, with a 7.46 ERA, plus lefties hit him harder than righties, and we have a number of lefty hitters who would like to feast on him. Then again, that balances his great pitching at home last season. About even, though Scherzer has been bad in all but one start at home, but Sanchez has been bad in Arizona before. Should be a wild high scoring game, coin flip on who wins.
Giants Thoughts
The Giants need to come out of this road trip with at least 6 wins, which means that they need to win this series, 2 out of 3. Looks to be tough to do, but possible. Else they end the road trip with a 5-5 record, which would be a disappointment, these were very beatable teams. However, the offense has not risen to the challenge, nor has the pitching.
Rowand's hitting streak ended with yesterday's game, at 17. Funny, just before he started his streak, many fans were calling for his head (again) and suggesting trades that would dump his salary. Now he's hitting nearly 900 OPS and not a peep from anyone. This is the Rowand when things are going well. This Rowand is totally worth the contract the Giants gave him. And he had earned the contract given him in 3 of the 4 prior seasons before the Giants signed him, looking at Fangraphs value calcuations.
Hopefully he can start another hit streak against the D-backs. Plus, this is a hitter's park, so the offense should be perked up this series, especially facing Buckner and Scherzer, both of whom had not done well at home this season, for the most part. The offense still has a lot to prove, and less time to prove it.
My thoughts go out to Travis Ishikawa, who will go on bereavement leave this series to attend his grandfather's funeral.
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