Phillies vs. Giants NLCS Preview: The Pitchers
It’s just about everything that anyone around Citizens Bank Park and the NLCS is talking about: pitching, pitching, pitching.
Did we mention pitching?
It’s the focus of the Phillies’ series against the Giants – and with good reason. Charlie Manuel said San Francisco’s staff ranked right up there with any group the Phils have faced during their charmed run. And the Phils’ rotation just happens to feature a Cy Young Award-winner, a World Series MVP and a three-time All-Star.
It’s got all the makings of a classic pitching series filled with 1-0 and 2-1 games. The matchups seem to foreshadow that.
Game 1, which starts at 7:57 p.m. Saturday, could feature this year’s Cy Young (if Roy Halladay wins it) vs. the 2009 and 2008 winner, Tim Lincecum. As far as a star vs. star pitching matchup, it might not get better than this – unless of course Halladay meets Cliff Lee in the World Series.
Halladay, of course, threw a no-hitter in his playoff debut in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Reds. Lincecum wasn’t too bad in his, striking out 14 and walking just one in a two-hit shutout.
The drop-off to Game 2 isn’t even that much, as the Phils will match Roy Oswalt against Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez. Oswalt struggled in his first playoff game but during the regular season dominated since being traded to the Phils, going 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA in red pinstripes.
Sanchez was a bit better than average for San Francisco, but he’s Bruce Bochy’s choice to start the second game because of his history against the Phils: He’s 2-0 against them this year and allowed just five hits in 13 innings. The Phils hit .175 against him.
In Game 3, the Phils turn to 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, who was transcendent in the clincher against Cincinnati, tossing a five-hit shutout. He’ll go against San Francisco’s Matt Cain, who gave up only one run in his postseason debut last week against the Braves.
Game 4 is the biggest unknown of the series. Manuel insisted he would start Joe Blanton no matter where the series stands, and the Giants have named youngster Madison Bumgarner their starter. But if the Phils are down 3-0 or 2-1, Halladay going on short rest could look like a more attractive option.
In the bullpens, the Phils are well-rested. Closer Brad Lidge needed to toss just one inning during the NLCS, and the rest of the regulars – Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin – all got just spot duty as well.
Giants closer Brian Wilson picked up saves in each of his team’s three NLDS victories. San Francisco has two lefties in its bullpen, Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez, to toss at Phils big hitters Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
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