The San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies are both meeting for the first time this season after facing off in the National League Championship Series last year. A marquee pitching matchup is in store Wednesday night on ESPN with the first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (PST) at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia possesses the best record in the National League this year and will be aiming to exact revenge on the team that knocked it out of the playoffs in 2010. The Phillies entered the series with a healthy six-game lead in the NL East standings.
“This is 2011 - 2010 happened last year,” commented Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard. “They won in 2010. Congratulations.”
The club is led by a tremendous starting staff that has posted a 28-9 record at home this season, which has resulted in a 37-16 mark at Citizens Bank Park on the year.
Cole Hamels (12-5, 2.62 ERA) will make his 22nd start of the year in front of a national television audience, coming off a brilliant 3-1 home victory over the Padres last time out. He surrendered just a single run and three hits over eight innings in that particular contest.
Hamels has pitched beautifully all season long in front of the home faithful, entering with a 7-3 record and 2.29 ERA in 12 outings, limiting hitters to a .199 batting average in the process.
The left-hander has posted a winning 4-2 mark and 4.67 ERA in eight career starts versus the Giants. Philadelphia has also won his last five appearances against NL West competition.
San Francisco enjoyed a day off at the nation’s capitol with a trip to the White House Monday, as the team got to celebrate its World Series win with President Barack Obama.
The Giants have had plenty to cheer about recently by posting a 20-9 mark over their last 29 games, which is the most wins of any team in the majors over that span. Relief pitching has been a major strength since the All-Star break, posting a 0.28 ERA since the All-Star break.
Matt Cain (8-6, 3.06 ERA) is the scheduled starter for this contest, but that may change with staff ace Tim Lincecum getting scratched from Tuesday’s start due to a stomach illness. The right-hander has a losing 1-2 record and 3.24 ERA in four starts this month.
Cain has never beaten the Phillies in his career, bringing in an 0-3 record and 6.23 ERA, including an 0-2 mark and 5.29 ERA in three outings at tonight’s venue.
He will need to pitch carefully to Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, who is 7 for 15 in his career against him, with three home runs and seven RBIs.
The Giants are also a dismal 7-15 in their last 22 meetings in the City of Brotherly Love.