First Place Giants take on the Brewers

Let's go on a trip down memory lane.

It was July the 4^th, the Giants were coming off a nasty 15 inning loss at the hands of the Rockies. Heads were hanging. Things looked bleak.

The team had fallen to just one game above .500. Things looked to be coming apart at the seams. The chances of contending seemed like dim lights and there were debates on whether the team should be a buyer or a seller at the trade deadline. The team was in fourth place and had lost 8 of 10 and 10 of the last 12 games.

Then the Giants went to Milwaukee and it all changed.

I think that if things continue to play out the way it is headed al of the Giants fans need to send the Brewers a thank you card because the team got hot off their pitching and had a month to remember.
Hopefully the Giants can take advantage of the Brewers once again.

Probables:

Madison Bumgarner, 5-5, 3.28 ERA vs. Randy Wolf, 11-11, 4.53 ERA
From MLB.com:

If it weren't for teammate Buster Posey, the Giants might be pushing Bumgarner for NL Rookie of the Year honors. He has thrived against National League West opponents, recording a 2.47 ERA.

Tossing eight innings and giving up just one run on a home run, Wolf thought his last outing may have been his best of the 2010 season. He'll look to continue his recent success, as he's gone 4-2 with a 3.07 ERA over his last nine starts.

Thoughts:

Randy Wolf is still a tough pitcher and he concerns me. He has always seemed to pitch well against the Giants. Bumgarner has been a very good pitcher this season and in the last few starts he has seemed to have grown stronger, his low 90's fastball has picked up some zip and was sitting in the 94-95 range his last 2 games.

This could a tight game but with Bumgarner pitching well I think he will give the Giants a chance to win.

Tim Lincecum, 14-9, 3.60 ERA vs. Yovani Gallardo, 12-7, 3.64 ERAFrom MLB.com:

Lincecum's awful August now is a distant memory as he has won his past three decisions. In his last outing, he held the Padres to one run and struck out nine in seven innings. In six starts against the Brewers, Lincecum is 2-2 with a 4.76 ERA.

Gallardo worked seven scoreless innings Sunday for the second straight start following three in a row in which he allowed at least six runs. One of his most memorable starts was at AT&T Park last April, when he homered off Randy Johnson.

Thoughts:

Like the mlb blurb says, the August worries for Lincecum seem to be a distant memory. His starts this month have been fantastic, especially being able to place the fast ball where he wants to and limiting the free passes. Gallardo is a good pitcher but with Tim going the feeling is back that things will go good and the Giants should have a good chance to get a victory.

Barry Zito, 8-13, 4.02 ERA vs. TBAFrom MLB.com:

Zito suffered a loss in his career-high ninth straight decision in his last start, but appears to be finding himself. Zito said he's felt better in his past two starts, and it shows as he's allowed five hits in 11 2/3 innings.

Thoughts:

Zito deserved better last start; he gave up one hit and gave up an unearned run that was enough to beat the team. Sometimes that happens with this Giants offense just ask Jonathan Sanchez and the King of no run support Matt Cain. He has certainly looked much sharper in his last few outings; the key for Zito is keeping the hitters in the yard and limiting the walks. If he does that the Giants should have a shot to score some runs.

Hopefully he gets a karmic break for losing a one hitter.