Can Anyone Stop the San Francisco Giants?

After a 19-9 month of May, and a 1-0 start in June, the San Francisco Giants have the best record in baseball, and making it look easy. Looking ahead to June, the Giants schedule doesn’t pose any real threats the way they have been playing. This begs the question, “Can anyone stop the San Francisco Giants”?

With their 37-20 record, the Giants sit 7.5 games up on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. While it is hard to believe that the Dodgers will continue to play this poorly all season, compiling a 12-17 record at home thus far, the lead gives the Giants substantial breathing room.

How is it that the Giants have been winning all of these games? Their pitching staff ranks 3rd in MLB in Runs Allowed with 190. While their offense isn’t the most fearsome, they are a timely bunch. Over at Around the Foghorn, they have a 2-out hits toteboard, which ranks each player’s performance with 2 outs this season. Michael Morse leads this charge, batting .305 in 59 ABs this season.

Last season, the Cardinals used their superior ability to provide hits with RISP to make the World Series. The 2013 Cardinals hit an astounding .330 with RISP as a team over the course of the season. They also had great pitching to go along with their timely hitting, and that is what vaulted them into the Fall Classic. Two months in to the 2014 season, this is the method the Giants are utilizing, only with 2 outs.

Why does it seem like the Giants can’t be challenged in the NL? It’s simple. They are the dominant team thus far. Looking at other division leaders, nobody seems to be on the same level. The Atlanta Braves have already lost two series to the orange and black. Milwaukee started the season off great, going 19-8, but in May they struggled to a 13-15 record. The Cardinals actually had the best May in the NL Central, going 15-12, but just lost 3 of 4 to the Giants. Again, the Dodgers may be the Giants’ biggest concern in the NL. They’re just too talented to not put a run together.

The team that posses the biggest threat to the Giants may be just 17.2 miles away in Oakland. The Athletics are one of the 2 teams that have allowed fewer runs than the Giants this season (Atlanta being the other), and the A’s offense has scored nearly 50 runs more than the Giants’. The A’s starters have arguably been better than the Giants’, but where the Giants hold a big upper hand is in their bullpen. While the A’s overall bullpen ERA is solid, when they’ve given up runs has hurt the Athletics’ record. The timely hitting of the Giants may take full advantage of this.

In the Giant’s bullpen, Sergio Romo has had a little hiccup as of late. If a change becomes necessary, Jean Machi would be the ideal candidate to take over 9th inning duties. Machi has been both the workhorse of the bullpen, and the Giants’ most effective reliever, with a 0.33 ERA in 27 IP.

If the Giants can play just .500 baseball for the rest of the season, that will give them 89 wins, but that may not be quite enough for the divisional crown. If they go 58-47 the rest of the way, they’ll finish with 95 victories and that should be enough to capture the NL West and grace October with their presence once again. Could they be celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Bay Bridge Series with a rematch? It’s too early to tell, but entering June the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants sit atop MLB.