San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers
Posted on | August 11, 2006 | No Comments
The Dodgers will welcome the San Francisco Giants to town tonight as the two teams begin a three game series in Los Angeles. Looking at the matchup from a far, you would think the first place Dodgers would have a clear advantage over the last place Giants, but that is not necessarily the case. Only 4.5 games separate the two teams, and the Dodgers also have to be worried about the Diamondbacks and Padres who are only half a game back, and the Colorado Rockies who are 3.5 games back. The Dodgers have been doing what they have had to do the last few games, winning three of four against the Rockies, and sweeping the Marlins on the road. The Giants on the other hand have been sliding as of late, losing two of thee to both the Rockies and Diamondbacks, contributing to their below .500 record within their division.
In game one, two left handed pitchers will face off, in Noah Lowry for the Giants and Mark Hendrickson for the Dodgers. Lowry is 5-7 on the year, with a 4.21 ERA, though he has pitched better in the second half of the year. Hendrickson has posted a 5-12 record to this point in the season, and a 4.13 ERA. Hendrickson has struggled since joining the Dodgers after a trade from Tampa Bay, winning only one game. Matt Cain will take the mound against Brad Penny in game two. Cain is 8-8, with a 4.62 ERA, and is coming off a start against the Rockies in which he struck out 12 batters, a career high. Penny has also been impressive, winning his last two starts, and looking to improve his 12-5 record, and 3.43 ERA. Penny’s control as of late has been nothing short of spectacular, proving his status as Dodgers’ ace. The series finale will be pitched by two veteran pitchers in Jason Schmidt and Greg Maddux. Schmidt is 9-7, with a 3.15 ERA, despite receiving very little run support from the Giants. Maddux is looking to improve his 10-11 record to .500, but he will have to pitch better than a 4.43 ERA if he wants that to be the case. Maddux has yet to win as a Dodger in 2006, receiving a no decision in his one start since the trading deadline.
Analysis: The teams are relatively even on the mound, with the exception of game two when Brad Penny pitches, where he has the clear advantage. The remaining two games really could go either way depending on what the starting pitchers bring to the game. The Dodgers have been playing well as of late, and look to finally be clicking together as a team. Look for the Dodgers to sweep the series, and further there lead in the NL West.
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