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Last-Gasp Giants Face Colorado Rockies
San Francisco is 8-4 against the Colorado Rockies this year.
The San Francisco Giants are making a final attempt at a playoff spot when they continue their series with the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.
First pitch from Coors Field in Denver will be at 8:10 p.m. (ET) and the MLB odds will be available soon. The pitching matchup is a couple of youngsters with Eric Surkamp against Drew Pomeranz.
The defending champion Giants (80-70) have won five straight, four at home and won this series opener on Thursday night, 8-5. Ryan Vogelsong got the win and third baseman Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle.
The Friday night game is still pending with the visitors a 130 favorite behind Madison Bumgarner. Alex White was on the hill for Colorado and the total was nine runs.
San Fran trails upstart Arizona by seven games in the NL West with 12 to play. The teams do meet in the desert for three games beginning Sept. 23, but the Giants still need to go around 10-2 and hope for the Diamondbacks to freefall at 3-9. That would force a one-game playoff.
The Giants are also six games back of Atlanta in the wild-card, with St. Louis also a factor (4.5 games out).
Surkamp (2-0, 3.24 ERA) is making his fourth career start after getting called up to fill the fifth starter spot. Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) is doubtful to return this season, while Barry Zito was activated off the DL on Sunday, but should stick in the pen.
The 24-year-old lefty Surkamp has seen San Fran go 3-0 in his starts, home wins over San Diego and Houston and another one in San Diego. Those are two of the worst hitting teams in baseball, but it was still a solid start with six total earned runs over 16 2/3 innings.
One thing Surkamp hasn’t done is strikeout MLB hitters. His strikeout rate is just 3.24 after posting a 10.43 mark at the Double-A level. Pitching in hitter-friendly Coors Field will easily be the biggest challenge of the NC State product’s early career.
The Rockies (70-79) are putting the finishing touches on a disappointing season. Having just a 38-37 home record (-13.3 betting units), after averaging 51.5 wins there the last two seasons, is a big reason why.
Pomeranz (1-0, 1.00 ERA) is one of 13 Colorado pitchers to make a start this year. His lone outing came last Sunday at home against Cincinnati, five shutout innings (two hits) in a 4-1 win. That was after having an emergency appendectomy performed in August.
His fastball wasn’t overpowering at just 91 mph (two strikeouts), but he had an effective change-up. He had 119 strikeouts and 38 walks in 101 total minor league innings this year.
The 22-year-old lefty was acquired from Cleveland in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. He was the centerpiece of the deal as the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Ole Miss.
San Francisco is 8-4 against Colorado this year, 3-3 on the road. The ‘over’ is 5-1 in those six away games.
The Giants are 36-36 away this year (-.8 units) and 19-9 in their last 28 road games against a lefty starter.
The ‘over’ is 5-1 in San Fran’s last six road games.
Colorado is 1-7 in its last eight home games against a team with a winning record. The ‘over’ is 12-4 in its last 16 at home overall.
Paul Schrieber will call balls and strikes. The Giants are 9-1 the last 10 games with him behind home plate.
Colorado could be missing its three best hitters in first baseman Todd Helton (back), shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (wrist). Helton has the best chance to play and he’s just questionable.
Weather will be in the 60s with isolated thunderstorms. The series finale on Sunday will pit Matt Cain against Esmil Rogers.
San Francisco is 8-4 against the Colorado Rockies this year.
The San Francisco Giants are making a final attempt at a playoff spot when they continue their series with the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.
First pitch from Coors Field in Denver will be at 8:10 p.m. (ET) and the MLB odds will be available soon. The pitching matchup is a couple of youngsters with Eric Surkamp against Drew Pomeranz.
The defending champion Giants (80-70) have won five straight, four at home and won this series opener on Thursday night, 8-5. Ryan Vogelsong got the win and third baseman Pablo Sandoval hit for the cycle.
The Friday night game is still pending with the visitors a 130 favorite behind Madison Bumgarner. Alex White was on the hill for Colorado and the total was nine runs.
San Fran trails upstart Arizona by seven games in the NL West with 12 to play. The teams do meet in the desert for three games beginning Sept. 23, but the Giants still need to go around 10-2 and hope for the Diamondbacks to freefall at 3-9. That would force a one-game playoff.
The Giants are also six games back of Atlanta in the wild-card, with St. Louis also a factor (4.5 games out).
Surkamp (2-0, 3.24 ERA) is making his fourth career start after getting called up to fill the fifth starter spot. Jonathan Sanchez (ankle) is doubtful to return this season, while Barry Zito was activated off the DL on Sunday, but should stick in the pen.
The 24-year-old lefty Surkamp has seen San Fran go 3-0 in his starts, home wins over San Diego and Houston and another one in San Diego. Those are two of the worst hitting teams in baseball, but it was still a solid start with six total earned runs over 16 2/3 innings.
One thing Surkamp hasn’t done is strikeout MLB hitters. His strikeout rate is just 3.24 after posting a 10.43 mark at the Double-A level. Pitching in hitter-friendly Coors Field will easily be the biggest challenge of the NC State product’s early career.
The Rockies (70-79) are putting the finishing touches on a disappointing season. Having just a 38-37 home record (-13.3 betting units), after averaging 51.5 wins there the last two seasons, is a big reason why.
Pomeranz (1-0, 1.00 ERA) is one of 13 Colorado pitchers to make a start this year. His lone outing came last Sunday at home against Cincinnati, five shutout innings (two hits) in a 4-1 win. That was after having an emergency appendectomy performed in August.
His fastball wasn’t overpowering at just 91 mph (two strikeouts), but he had an effective change-up. He had 119 strikeouts and 38 walks in 101 total minor league innings this year.
The 22-year-old lefty was acquired from Cleveland in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. He was the centerpiece of the deal as the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Ole Miss.
San Francisco is 8-4 against Colorado this year, 3-3 on the road. The ‘over’ is 5-1 in those six away games.
The Giants are 36-36 away this year (-.8 units) and 19-9 in their last 28 road games against a lefty starter.
The ‘over’ is 5-1 in San Fran’s last six road games.
Colorado is 1-7 in its last eight home games against a team with a winning record. The ‘over’ is 12-4 in its last 16 at home overall.
Paul Schrieber will call balls and strikes. The Giants are 9-1 the last 10 games with him behind home plate.
Colorado could be missing its three best hitters in first baseman Todd Helton (back), shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (wrist). Helton has the best chance to play and he’s just questionable.
Weather will be in the 60s with isolated thunderstorms. The series finale on Sunday will pit Matt Cain against Esmil Rogers.
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