Vogelsong vs. Marquis in N.L. West Showdown

The reigning World Series Champions are starting to sweat! The San Francisco Giants have held the lead in the National League West for the majority of the season, and still do. However, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made a significant move over the last few weeks and are now just 1 game behind the Giants for the division lead. Despite winning the World Series last season, MLB handicappers made the Giants a slight favorite in the West due to their lack of offense.

Offense or lack of offense has been a problem for the Giants this season, but fortunately they have one of the top pitching staff’s in the league to keep them in ball games. The loss of Buster Posey early in the season was devastating to this line-up, and the loss of his “pop” in the batting order is starting to show its affects. Picking up Carlos Beltran prior to the trade deadline was a necessity. The Giants batting average is the 3rd worst in baseball, and only 1 other team (Seattle) has scored less runs. Beltran has shown that he’s back to his old form, and will need to keep up his current pace in order for San Francisco to hold off Arizona for the division title. A month ago baseball experts would have said that only the winner of the West would move onto the post-season, because the Atlanta Braves looked to have a lock on the Wildcard position. The Braves have been reeled-in over the last few weeks as both the Giants and D-Backs are playing their best baseball.

Although the Giants lost the first game of this 3 game series against Arizona, they are in the driver’s seat to win the series as they send Tim Lincecum to the mound Tuesday and Ryan Vogelsong Wednesday. Everyone knows how talented Lincecum is as he has already won the Cy Young award multiple times, and has established himself as one of the best pitcher’s in the game. Vogelsong is having a breakthrough season after coming back from shoulder surgery and a stint in Japan. Arizona’s bats will be the difference in this series. If they can manufacture a few runs early it will make it extremely difficult for this weak Giants offense to play catch-up.

Jason Marquis had a phenomenal start to the season, but hasn’t received the run support over his last few starts to keep it going. He has been incredibly consistent this year, and has been able to go deep into games and give the relief pitcher’s some much needed rest. He will have to match Vogelsong pitch for pitch Wednesday and hope that his offense can put some runs on the board. This division may come down to the wire, and this series has the potential to be significant for one of these two teams. Tune in Wednesday night as the Giants host the Diamondbacks in a critical series that could help determine the N.L. West division winner.

 

Related posts:

1. Vogelsong & Giants look to extend lead in West
2. National League West: Down to the Wire
3. Dodgers and Diambondbacks Battle in National League West Showdown
4. Marquis vs. Arrieta in Inter-League Pitcher’s Duel
5. Collmenter looks to extend Series against Brewers

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