San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies Series Preview

by Maggie Pilloton Follow @MaggiePilloton

Coming off their second off day this week, the San Francisco Giants kick off a three-game series at home against the Philadelphia Phillies tonight. The Giants last faced the Chicago White Sox, in which they split the two-game series.

As many Giants fans know at this point in the season, the Giants have underachieved at home this season. With their win on Wednesday, the Giants now have a 30-31 record at home. Despite having a losing record overall last season, the Giants still finished the 2013 season with a 42-40 home record. In 2012, the Giants had a 48-33 home record.

The Giants hope to build off their 7-1 win on Wednesday over the White Sox and continue to improve their offensive production at home in this series.

The Phillies have a 53-68 record this season, which puts them in last place in the National League East and 13.5 games behind the Washington Nationals.

Here are the pitching matchups for this series:

Friday Aug. 15th at 7:15 PM PT: Cole Hamels (6-6, 2.37 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner (13-9, 3.22 ERA)
This is certainly the best pitching matchup of the series. This battle of lefties will surely be a pitchers’ duel, as the two aces of these teams go head to head. Hamels hasn’t been receiving much run support at all this season, so he’s stuck on just six wins, despite having a fantastic year.

Hamels has faced the Giants once before this year, and he went eight innings, gave up one earned run, six hits, he walked one, and he struck out 10 in the Phillies’ 2-1 win.

In Hamels’ last outing against the New York Mets, he allowed five hits, he gave up just one run, he walked three, and he struck out five in the Phillies’ 2-1 loss.

Saturday Aug. 16th at 1:05 PM PT: Kyle Kendrick (5-11, 4.88 ERA) vs. Tim Hudson (8-9, 2.81 ERA)

In Kendrick’s last outing against the Mets, he lasted five innings and gave up six runs (five earned), 10 hits, three walks, two home runs, and he struck out one in the Phillies’ 7-6 win.

Kendrick hasn’t faced the Giants this year.

Sunday Aug. 17th at 1:05 PM PT: David Buchanan (6-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. Tim Lincecum (9-8, 4.51 ERA)
Despite the Phillies ultimately losing the game 5-3, Buchanan was solid in his last outing against the Mets. He gave up four hits and three earned runs in six innings, and he walked one and struck out five. In his last seven starts in the Majors, he has gone 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA.

Buchanan also hasn’t faced the Giants this year.