Both teams were out, but now are still somewhat in.
That is especially true for the San Francisco Giants, who have been in a better position than the Diamondbacks almost the entire season.
Both teams have seen their momentum rise over the past few weeks. The San Francisco Giants were 54-55 at the end of July, after getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, which was their second consecutive series loss without winning a game. Although they won some games immediately after entering August, they soon found themselves falling of the stairs after a 7-game
losing streak mid August. Nothing indicated that the Giants would stand up again, but a la Jean-Claude van Damme they have not only lifted themselves up, but they have also been knocking their opponents around the past few weeks. Since their series against Milwaukee, that started with a loss on August 22, they have gone 11-4, 2 of those losses came by the hands of the Cardinals last weekend.
In those 15 games the Giants scored 100 runs, so it is quite clear where their recent surge came from: the offence that has been so absent in San Francisco the entire season. The Giants now stand at 72-71, 0.5 games ahead of the Diamonbacks’ 72-72, and 4 games out of a Wild Card (New York Mets).
6 of their 9 regular position leaders are currently batting with a huge BABIP (ranging from .333 for Patrick Bailey’s 77 WRC+ to Dominic Smith’s .400, good for a 134 WRC+), so it is all a mirage, and their total of 5 runs in Saturday’s and Sunday’s losses could hint that the hot two week streak is coming to an end. That would be good news. Especially Willy Adames (7 homeruns) and Rafael Devers (6 homeruns) have been hitting the ball really hard, with the former being somewhat unlucky (.242 BABIP) and the latter lucky (.382 BABIP). On the other hand, we all know the Giants’ strength, which is their pitching corps.
Compared to when we saw them the last time, the team changed a bit around the trade deadline. Familiar faces Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval, and Mike Yastrzemski left the team. Doval has been struggling in the Yankees pinstripes, but Rogers has been dominant for the Mets while Yastrzemski has been slugging ball for Kansas. They received 8 players in return but only one, Jose Butto, a reliever, has been a direct reinforcement for the major leagues.
Of note, Landon Roupp is the only player that we probably know who is on the injured list.
Matchups.
Game #1 Mon 09/08 6:45 PM MST, Logan Webb (SFG) vs Nabil Crismatt (ARI).
- Logan Webb. 29 GS, 178.2 IP, 13 W-9 L, 3.17 ERA, 2.67 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, 194/39 K/BB. $12,000,000.
- Nabil Crismatt. 4 G, 3 GS, 21.0 IP, 2 W-0 L, 2.14 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 1.33 WHIP, 14/6 K/BB. $760,000.
Logan Webb needs no introduction. That is what I wrote in my series preview. I assume it is still a valid line. In my previous preview, however, Webb had a much better line than today, with an ERA well below 3.00. That is thanks to a somewhat rough ride he had mid July, when he gave up more than a run per inning. Last time he pitched against the Diamondbacks was on June 30 and he took the loss, giving up 3 runs in 6.1 innings, with 7 hits.
Nabil Crismatt will make his 4th start as a Diamondback. While he hardly knocks a batter out, he is able to pitch around the hitters that reach base, leading to a fine FIP and even better ERA. Crismatt has thrown over 80 pitches in his last 2 games, so he should be able to go deep.
Game #2 Tue 09/09 6:45 PM MST, Robbie Ray (SFG) vs Zac Gallen (ARI).
- Robbie Ray. 29 GS, 168.2 IP, 10 W-6 L, 3.31 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, 171/65 K/BB. $25,000,000
- Zac Gallen. 29 GS, 168.0 IP, 11 W-13 L, 4.77 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 154/57 K/BB. $13,500,000
Robbie Ray has been a great reinforcement for the Giants’ pitching corps and, after pitching a complete game against the Diamondbacks on July 3, he was on a terrific 2.68 ERA. By the end of July, though, he struggled a bit more, seemed to get back on track in August, but in his past two games he was roughed up by the Rockies and Baltimore.
Zac Gallen continues to improve his season stats but isn’t able to go more than 6 innings. The last time he completed 7 innings was against the Giants, on July 1, where he took the win, allowing 2 runs.
Game #3 Wed 09/10 12:45 PM MST, Carson Seymour (SFG) vs Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI).
- Carson Seymour. 12 G, 2 GS, 29.2 IP, 1 W-2 L, 4.25 ERA, 6.61 FIP, 1.35 WHIP, 20/12 K/BB. $760,000
- Eduardo Rodriguez. 25 GS, 131.0 IP, 7 W-8 L, 5.22 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 1.60 WHIP, 124/53 K/BB. $20,000,000
Carson Seymour was added to the 40-man roster last year November, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and made his debut in the major leagues at the end of July, in relief. He has been with the Giants ever since, pitching primarily in a long relief role, saving valuable innings for the reliever corps. He was recently moved into a starting pitching role but struggled in his first start in a rough game against the Orioles. His second start against the Cardinals was a lot better, with 1 earned run in 5 innings, and he got his first major league win. Prospect sites are divided if he can stick in a major league rotation, but the Giants will be happy to try it out.
No better opponent than Rodriguez to try out Seymour again. E-Rod is a swing and a miss. Hopefully he will be a swing against the Giants, just like he was against Boston and the Dodgers. His previous meeting against the Giants, in April, ended in a loss, giving up 4 runs in 4 innings.
