Post by Commissioner Erick on Mar 19, 2018 7:34:47 GMT -5
San Francisco Giants (83-52) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (83-53)
SF: Daniel Norris (13-3, 3.52)
LAD: Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 2.77)
The Giants have started rattling off series wins over winning teams, knocking off the Cubs, Rockies, and Mets in recent weeks. The Dodgers spent last week dropping series to the Padres and Diamondbacks.
That's why the San Francisco Giants come into tonight's Game of the Week against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the leaders in the NL West.
While both teams are near-locks to earn a playoff berth, both teams understand the ramifications of winning the division. Last year the Dodgers were forced into a wild card game with the Pirates and an aberrational offensive drought combined with an aberrational Jung-Ho Kang home run led to the Dodgers getting eliminated before the ALDS. The Giants also suffered an aberrational loss to the Pirates in the postseason—but were able to win four other games as division winners are guaranteed to play a best-of-seven series.
These are the stakes behind tonight's pivotal contest.
The Dodgers, losers of five of seven, will need to get their pitching shored up against an offense as resourceful as the Giants. After a stretch of excellence, Clayton Kershaw allowed six runs, four earned, in 3 innings against the Padres his last outing. Kershaw has faced the Giants six times over his career and has never lost, though he also hasn't been as dominant as he has against other teams. Los Angeles could use a dominant outing from him tonight.
It would also help if their stars could get back on track. Cody Bellinger's power has remained consistent throughout the season, but his average has waned in the summer, going from .295 in June, to .253 in July, to .226 in August, and now .176 in September. Meanwhile, after 15 home runs and an average well over .300 through May, injuries have robbed Joc Pederson of the special year he was on pace to have, with only nine home runs since mid-May. Getting those two players on track would help the Dodgers overcome the Giants and win the West.
The Giants haven't needed their stars to over-perform as they've been getting strong performances from everyone this month. Four of Buster Posey's 11 home runs on the year have come during the past three weeks, along with 10 of his 62 walks. Joe Panik has 12 RBIs over his last 14 games. Cleanup hitter Hunter Pence hasn't hit a home run since August 12th and the team hasn't missed a beat, still producing the third most runs in the league.
The pitching has continued to excel though. The bullpen is the best in the league, anchored by Mark Melancon. He allowed 19 runs over the first two months, and has given up just three since, leading to a 0.66 ERA since June 1st. The starters will get reinforced by an arm coming off the DL.
Daniel Norris was out with a sore shoulder most Giants personnel believe originated when he fired a Complete Game against Milwaukee. He wasn't effective his next start against Toronto, before leaving early in a contest against the Mets. If he's healthy, Norris provides decent walk, strikeout, and home-run rates, and thanks to the Giants defense, deflated BABIPS. Lefties can't touch him as he's given up a .166 average and two home runs in 211 at bats this year. Righties OPS at an .815 clip, so it will be interesting to see how the Dodgers deploy their best left-handers.
Questions for the GMs:
For Samuel Rutledge, how important is it for you to win the division if you have a wild card spot sewn up? With a 12-game lead over Pittsburgh for the second wild card, you can begin to rest guys, or go full throttle for the division.
Clayton Kershaw has never lost to your team. What's the game plan for trying to beat him today?
Mark Melancon has a reputation for disaster. He also has been nearly untouchable for four months. How confident do you feel in Melancon taking the hill against a top team like the Dodgers?
For Troy Allenbaugh, same question as what was posited to Samuel. How much do you focus on resting players versus going for the division with thr wild card shored up?
Your most dangerous hitters are lefties, but Norris really dominates them and struggled with righties. Will that affect your lineup choice at all?
With some time to evaluate, how do you look back on the Nomar Mazara trade? How has it changed your team for better or worse?
SF: Daniel Norris (13-3, 3.52)
LAD: Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 2.77)
The Giants have started rattling off series wins over winning teams, knocking off the Cubs, Rockies, and Mets in recent weeks. The Dodgers spent last week dropping series to the Padres and Diamondbacks.
That's why the San Francisco Giants come into tonight's Game of the Week against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the leaders in the NL West.
While both teams are near-locks to earn a playoff berth, both teams understand the ramifications of winning the division. Last year the Dodgers were forced into a wild card game with the Pirates and an aberrational offensive drought combined with an aberrational Jung-Ho Kang home run led to the Dodgers getting eliminated before the ALDS. The Giants also suffered an aberrational loss to the Pirates in the postseason—but were able to win four other games as division winners are guaranteed to play a best-of-seven series.
These are the stakes behind tonight's pivotal contest.
The Dodgers, losers of five of seven, will need to get their pitching shored up against an offense as resourceful as the Giants. After a stretch of excellence, Clayton Kershaw allowed six runs, four earned, in 3 innings against the Padres his last outing. Kershaw has faced the Giants six times over his career and has never lost, though he also hasn't been as dominant as he has against other teams. Los Angeles could use a dominant outing from him tonight.
It would also help if their stars could get back on track. Cody Bellinger's power has remained consistent throughout the season, but his average has waned in the summer, going from .295 in June, to .253 in July, to .226 in August, and now .176 in September. Meanwhile, after 15 home runs and an average well over .300 through May, injuries have robbed Joc Pederson of the special year he was on pace to have, with only nine home runs since mid-May. Getting those two players on track would help the Dodgers overcome the Giants and win the West.
The Giants haven't needed their stars to over-perform as they've been getting strong performances from everyone this month. Four of Buster Posey's 11 home runs on the year have come during the past three weeks, along with 10 of his 62 walks. Joe Panik has 12 RBIs over his last 14 games. Cleanup hitter Hunter Pence hasn't hit a home run since August 12th and the team hasn't missed a beat, still producing the third most runs in the league.
The pitching has continued to excel though. The bullpen is the best in the league, anchored by Mark Melancon. He allowed 19 runs over the first two months, and has given up just three since, leading to a 0.66 ERA since June 1st. The starters will get reinforced by an arm coming off the DL.
Daniel Norris was out with a sore shoulder most Giants personnel believe originated when he fired a Complete Game against Milwaukee. He wasn't effective his next start against Toronto, before leaving early in a contest against the Mets. If he's healthy, Norris provides decent walk, strikeout, and home-run rates, and thanks to the Giants defense, deflated BABIPS. Lefties can't touch him as he's given up a .166 average and two home runs in 211 at bats this year. Righties OPS at an .815 clip, so it will be interesting to see how the Dodgers deploy their best left-handers.
Questions for the GMs:
For Samuel Rutledge, how important is it for you to win the division if you have a wild card spot sewn up? With a 12-game lead over Pittsburgh for the second wild card, you can begin to rest guys, or go full throttle for the division.
Clayton Kershaw has never lost to your team. What's the game plan for trying to beat him today?
Mark Melancon has a reputation for disaster. He also has been nearly untouchable for four months. How confident do you feel in Melancon taking the hill against a top team like the Dodgers?
For Troy Allenbaugh, same question as what was posited to Samuel. How much do you focus on resting players versus going for the division with thr wild card shored up?
Your most dangerous hitters are lefties, but Norris really dominates them and struggled with righties. Will that affect your lineup choice at all?
With some time to evaluate, how do you look back on the Nomar Mazara trade? How has it changed your team for better or worse?