Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 19, 2017 12:31:26 GMT -5
Pittsburgh Pirates (58-40) @ San Francisco Giants (66-34)
PIT: Clay Holmes (3-0, 4.10)
SF: Madison Bumgarner (11-3, 2.61)
In some ways the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates are mirror images of one another. Both have few obvious offensive superstars as the two teams are the bottom two teams in the league for home runs. Both teams have strong rotations, especially when healthy. And both teams are overperforming their pythagorean record by four wins.
Which team can execute the same offensive game plan better than the other.
Pittsburgh has stormed out of the gates since the all-star game, winning eight of 10, including three in their last at bat. Each of their outfielders is hitting well in the second half, which is key, since Pittsburgh's offense runs on the contributions of Andrew McCuthchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. Still, everybody is contributing.
On Wednesday, Josh Harrison had a key two-run single in the eighth inning to break a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers, giving them a win. On Friday, Francisco Cervelli doubled home two in the ninth against the Colorado Rockies, giving the Pirates an 8-6 win. Sunday saw a David Freese homerun to tie a game in Colorado in the eighth. Kevin Newman tripled and scored the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
The Pirates have the second fewest strikeouts in the National League, three fewer than the Giants in fewer games, and it shows. The team is second in average and uses that high average approach to put base runners on and drive them in. In fact in high leverage situations, the Pirates have the second best OPS in the league.
The Giants offense is good, seventh in runs scored, but they probably won't need to be great with Madison Bumgarner on the hill. Bumgarner has gone 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA over his last five starts, according to GM Samuel Rutledge. He's in the top three of virtually every single major pitching category, along with Clayton Kershaw and whichever Metropolitan arm is feeling frisky in that category. He's the best National League pitcher this season outside of Kershaw.
That's good because the team has lost yet another significant outfielder. Brandon Belt should be back from a rehab assignment soon, but Denard Span is hitting the disabled list. He broke his elbow the other day and was providing competent fielding and running, to go with replacement-level hitting. When Belt returns, Hunter Pence will likely move to play right field, but its speculation at this point.
The Giants will be taking their cut against young Clay Holmes, a rookie. Holmes throws a lot of two-seamers, a changeup and a curveball. He hasn't lost a start this season in the bigs, 3-0 in seven games. He keeps the ball on the ground, and by extension, in the park. However, he didn't have premium control in the minors and is only striking out 4.5 batters per nine innings. He's already pitched a gem against the Giants, allowing one run over 8 innings on June 30th. However, without premium stuff, we'll see how he can adjust to the Giants getting a second look.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike McAvoy, Madison Bumgarner presents a huge problem for your offense. What will be your approach to try to get some runs off him?
Clay Holmes isn't striking anybody out. Do you think he can stay successful with such an inability to miss bats, regardless of his ability to keep the ball on the ground?
Josh Bell has been a revelation this season. What has been the secret to his success?
For Samuel Rutledge, Denard Span will probably miss the rest of the year. How do you set your lineup with his departure?
You have a few players on rehab. When will we see Brandon Belt and Jeff Samardzija again?
Michael Brantley only has three home runs this season, and two as a Giant. Still, he's been integral to your success. Talk about what having a guy like Brantley specifically does for your team.
PIT: Clay Holmes (3-0, 4.10)
SF: Madison Bumgarner (11-3, 2.61)
In some ways the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates are mirror images of one another. Both have few obvious offensive superstars as the two teams are the bottom two teams in the league for home runs. Both teams have strong rotations, especially when healthy. And both teams are overperforming their pythagorean record by four wins.
Which team can execute the same offensive game plan better than the other.
Pittsburgh has stormed out of the gates since the all-star game, winning eight of 10, including three in their last at bat. Each of their outfielders is hitting well in the second half, which is key, since Pittsburgh's offense runs on the contributions of Andrew McCuthchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco. Still, everybody is contributing.
On Wednesday, Josh Harrison had a key two-run single in the eighth inning to break a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers, giving them a win. On Friday, Francisco Cervelli doubled home two in the ninth against the Colorado Rockies, giving the Pirates an 8-6 win. Sunday saw a David Freese homerun to tie a game in Colorado in the eighth. Kevin Newman tripled and scored the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
The Pirates have the second fewest strikeouts in the National League, three fewer than the Giants in fewer games, and it shows. The team is second in average and uses that high average approach to put base runners on and drive them in. In fact in high leverage situations, the Pirates have the second best OPS in the league.
The Giants offense is good, seventh in runs scored, but they probably won't need to be great with Madison Bumgarner on the hill. Bumgarner has gone 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA over his last five starts, according to GM Samuel Rutledge. He's in the top three of virtually every single major pitching category, along with Clayton Kershaw and whichever Metropolitan arm is feeling frisky in that category. He's the best National League pitcher this season outside of Kershaw.
That's good because the team has lost yet another significant outfielder. Brandon Belt should be back from a rehab assignment soon, but Denard Span is hitting the disabled list. He broke his elbow the other day and was providing competent fielding and running, to go with replacement-level hitting. When Belt returns, Hunter Pence will likely move to play right field, but its speculation at this point.
The Giants will be taking their cut against young Clay Holmes, a rookie. Holmes throws a lot of two-seamers, a changeup and a curveball. He hasn't lost a start this season in the bigs, 3-0 in seven games. He keeps the ball on the ground, and by extension, in the park. However, he didn't have premium control in the minors and is only striking out 4.5 batters per nine innings. He's already pitched a gem against the Giants, allowing one run over 8 innings on June 30th. However, without premium stuff, we'll see how he can adjust to the Giants getting a second look.
Questions for the GMs:
For Mike McAvoy, Madison Bumgarner presents a huge problem for your offense. What will be your approach to try to get some runs off him?
Clay Holmes isn't striking anybody out. Do you think he can stay successful with such an inability to miss bats, regardless of his ability to keep the ball on the ground?
Josh Bell has been a revelation this season. What has been the secret to his success?
For Samuel Rutledge, Denard Span will probably miss the rest of the year. How do you set your lineup with his departure?
You have a few players on rehab. When will we see Brandon Belt and Jeff Samardzija again?
Michael Brantley only has three home runs this season, and two as a Giant. Still, he's been integral to your success. Talk about what having a guy like Brantley specifically does for your team.
