San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres Series Preview
The San Francisco Giants will play four games against the the San Diego Padres at home starting today in the last series of the 2014 season.
The Giants and Padres just recently faced off in a three-game series in San Diego. The Giants did not fare so well, as they were swept by the Padres. The Giants lost the first game 5-0, they lost the second game 3-2, and they lost the final game 8-2.
The Giants have gone 6-9 against the Padres this season, and they’re 3-3 against the them at AT&T Park this season. Given the Padres’ 76-82 record, the Giants’ record against the Padres this season is extremely disappointing.
The Giants have been underwhelming at home this season, as they have just a 42-35 record. The crowd for this final series will certainly be energetic, especially with a playoff berth on the line.
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However, the Giants will have to overcome a tough series loss to the Dodgers. They had the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot last night in Los Angeles, but unfortunately, the Dodgers won the game and the series, and they clinched the NL West all in one night.
This is a key series for the Giants for many reasons. Obviously, this is the last series of the season, so that makes it important.
The Giants are on the brink of clinching a playoff spot, but they need to win or sweep the series in order to gain some momentum before the playoffs. After being swept by the Padres and losing a key series to the Dodgers, the Giants need to regain some confidence in this series.
Let’s take a look at the pitching matchups for this final series:
Thursday Sept. 25th at 7:15 pm PT: Andrew Cashner (5-7, 2.21 ERA) vs. Yusmeiro Petit (5-5, 3.63 ERA)
In Cashner’s last start, which was against the Giants, he pitched eight strong innings, allowing just two runs in the win. Since August 19th of the 2013 season, Cashner has posted a ridiculous 1.82 ERA in 163 innings, the best by any pitcher during that stretch in MLB.
Petit has been dominant at AT&T Park this year, as he has posted a 2.54 ERA. His last outing was against the Padres, and he allowed four hits and two earned runs, he struck out seven, and he walked three in 5.1 innings.
Friday Sept. 26th at 7:15 pm PT: Ian Kennedy (12-13, 3.76 ERA) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (8-12, 3.96 ERA)
Aug 29, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) throws to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of their MLB baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Kennedy faced the Giants in his last start, and he allowed five hits and two earned runs in 6.2 innings. Kennedy has performed better on the road this season than at home, as he has a 3.57 road ERA, and he has a 2.88 ERA at AT&T Park in his career.
Vogelsong gave up four hits and two earned runs in five innings in his last start against the Padres. The Giants have lost six out of the last eight games in which Vogelsong has started, and they are 15-16 overall this season in his starts.
Saturday Sept. 27th at 1:05 pm PT: Eric Stults (8-17, 4.42 ERA) vs. Jake Peavy (6-4, 2.20 ERA)
Stults struggled mightily at the beginning of the season, but he has a 2.92 ERA in his last 10 starts. His last outing was against the Colorado Rockies, and he threw 6.1 shutout innings, despite giving up seven hits.
The Giants have gone 7-1 in Peavy’s last eight starts, and in the stretch, Peavy has a 1.31 ERA. In his last outing, he faced the Dodgers and gave up four hits and two earned runs in seven strong innings.
Sunday Sept. 28th at 1:05 pm PT: TBD