Once upon a time a 3 game weekend series in Coors Field looked like a major potential Giants stumbling block to winning the NL West. They dispatched that concern while barely breaking a sweat as the pounded the Rockies by combined 20-6 score. Coming back home to Oracle Park, the biggest worry is over the condition of Brandon Belt's left thumb which was hit by a pitch. On field tests seemed to be not too worrisome and Belt stayed in to run the bases but post-game X-rays were said to be "inconclusive". Yikes! He'll have more imaging today in SF.
The Giants "magic number" is now 5 with 6 games to play. If that doesn't seem so great, consider the Dodgers magic number is 9. If the Giants go 3-3, the Dodgers have to run the table to win outright. Of course there are numerous other numerical combinations for all potential outcomes, but overall the Giants are in significantly better situation than the Dodgers and a near wire-to-wire run to the NL West championship appears to be within reach.
How many times has a visitor left Coors having yielded just 6 runs in 3 games?!! Ever?
ReplyDelete6 runs in 3 games scored by Rox at home happened in 2018 against Atlanta & 2017 against San Diego.
DeleteMay 7-9, 2013, home against NYY:
W 2-0
L 2-3
L 1-3
11 runs total in 3 games.
Interesting, Rockies had been in 1st a lot up to that series and were 19-13 after their win. They finished 74-88 in last place, scoring 3 runs in 3 games, but not at Coors.
Giants to face Weaver, Kelly, Bumgarner, Velasquez, Musgrove, & Darvish. There are some potential stumbles in there, but 4-2 at home is very possible, putting pressure on LA to win out.
ReplyDeleteDodgers to face Darvish, ?, ?, Lauer, Burnes, & Peralta.
A week ago this seemed tougher for LA, but Milwaukee got swept by St Louis. With 2nd seed locked and nothing to gain, they can just line up rested pitchers for the series with Braves (possibly the Phillies). Same with their vets. The NLDS for them is far more important than the Dodgers series. Too bad.
The depleted Padres face Buehler, Scherzer, and Gonsolin in LA which makes Scherzer the Dodger pitcher for a Division playoff if necessary against (probably) Wood.
Darvish could have a lot to do with the the division race, potentially facing both LA and SF.
The play-in for St Louis, depending on whether the West has a clear winner of not, could be Dodgers' Scherzer or Gonsolin, or Giants Wood or DeSclafani.
Think Cardinals are hoping for a Western Division tie and avoid Scherzer?
The Giants seem to be able to win when necessary and have beaten up on AZ this year — hopefully that will continue. If SD wins a couple in LA, it could be over before the final series.
Most likely, this will play out to Game(s) 162: Webb against Darvish and Buehler against Peralta.
Belt: broken thumb. Return uncertain
ReplyDeleteFractured thumb for Belt. Not sure how bad it is, or if he can play. Not sure which bone it is. But it is fractured. Hopefully he can come back for meaningful ABs in the postseason.
ReplyDeleteIt's intriguing that the Giants have done as well on the road as at home (.654 Away, .653 Home) and how they've held their own against AL teams after losing 2 of 3 in Seattle to open the season (should have won the Opener!):
ReplyDeleteHouston 2-1
Angels 3-1 (2-0 Away)
Oakland 4-2 (2-1 Away)
Texas 3-1 (1-1 Away)
SF was 6-4 using the DH which may speak to their having 15 players with more than 200 PAs (16 counting Trachman who had 191 in 4 months, combined with NYY).
4-2 this week guarantees at least a tie for the division and if LA wins out, they begrudgingly deserve a playoff game, pitching Scherzer. UGH.
On a different note, Seattle is making a season-end push to get past someone for the Wild Card. They also have a slight chance to catch Houston who has a good lead but a tough schedule — 6 on the road, 3 each with TB and the A's.
NYY, Red Sox and Toronto play each other, while Seattle plays 3 with LAA, 2 with the A's, all at home.