San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres Series Preview

The San Francisco Giants are currently in a tight playoff race with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card race. Because of this, every game is a must-win at this point in the 2014 season for the Giants, especially when they’re facing an inferior team that they should win against, such as the San Diego Padres.

The Giants begin a three-game series with the Padres in San Diego today. The Padres have a 71-81 record and are 15.5 games behind the Dodgers for the NL West lead, so this is certainly a winnable series for the Giants.

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As of now, the Giants have an 84-68 record, and they are 2.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants and the Pirates currently hold the two Wild Card spots, and the Brewers are 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.

After losing two of three games in a crucial series against the Dodgers last weekend, the Giants won an important series against the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week in Arizona. As their road trip continues, the Giants look to sweep or at least secure a series win in San Diego before heading to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers again in another pivotal three-game series.

Then, to close out the season, the Giants face the Padres again at home for a four-game series.

The Giants are 6-6 against the Padres this season, and they’re 3-3 against the Padres at Petco Park.

Here are the pitching matchups for this series:

Friday Sept. 19th at 7:10 pm PT: Tim Hudson (9-11, 3.41 ERA) vs. Odrisamer Despaigne (3-7, 3.63 ERA)

Hudson had one of his worst starts in his career in his last outing. He faced the Dodgers and lasted just one inning, and he gave up six earned runs. Hudson has supposedly been bothered by a sore right hip recently, but he said he wants to pitch through it. Against the Padres this season, Hudson has gone 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts.

Despaigne made his Major League debut at AT&T Park about three months ago, and he pitched seven scoreless innings against the Giants in his debut. He’s faced the Giants twice this season, and he has a 1-0 record and a 0.69 ERA in those starts.

Saturday Sept. 20th at 5:40 pm PT: Yusmeiro Petit (5-4, 3.64 ERA) vs. Andrew Cashner (4-7, 2.20 ERA)

Aug 21, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit (52) delivers a pitch in the fifth inning of a rain delayed game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Petit continues to excel since his insertion into the Giants’ starting rotation. Petit has pitched in three games (one start) against the Padres this season, and he has a 1-0 record and a 0.00 ERA. However, he has a 5.27 ERA on the road this season in four starts and 15 games.

Cashner was incredible in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies, as he pitched a complete game two-hit shutout. Cashner hasn’t faced the Giants yet this season, but he has an impressive 1.34 ERA at home this season.

Sunday Sept. 21st at 1:10 pm PT: Ryan Vogelsong (8-11, 3.98 ERA) vs. Ian Kennedy (11-13, 3.80 ERA)

Vogelsong hasn’t faced the Padres yet this season, but he has a 1-3 record with a 9.37 ERA in five starts at Petco Park in his career. He’s also gone 5-5 with a 5.20 ERA on the road this season.

Kennedy has faced the Giants in just one start this season, and he went 6.1 innings and gave up four earned runs, which was good for a 5.68 ERA. Kennedy has also struggled in the month of September, as he has a 5.19 ERA in three starts so far.