raig Davis
Wednesday's Lineup
40 Dime ---- GIANTS (With Cain) -1 1/2 RUN LINE over PIRATES (With Duke)
Sometimes you simple can't avoid the writing on the wall. Matt Cain is better than Zach Duke. San Francisco's bullpen is better than Pittsburgh. Without Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh's offense is just one step above San Diego (a small step). San Francisco plays better defense and they're playing at home, coming in off a 3-2 win on Tuesday night.
Today's affair has all the makings of a San Francisco blowout. Everything, and I mean everything, points to the Giants, and that's the reason I'm stepping up my play today. I just love Matt Cain too much NOT to back him, especially when he's pitching at home during the day. Remember, this game is a 1:45 pm local start in San Francisco, and when Cain pitches during the daylight, he's nearly impossible to score on. Cain's numbers during the day are quite impressive in six starts... 4-1 record, 1.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and a .176 opponent's batting average against. These numbers sound eerily similar to what Cain did to the Pirates the last time he faced them in Pittsburgh (just 10 days ago).
Look, I understand Tim Lincecum is still considered the ace of this staff and the face of the franchise, but Matt Cain has been just as consistent and I'm not sure, if I had to pick between them to pitch for me for one game, who I'd pick. Cain has been "that good" this season and should have no problem shutting down a team that hits just .240 against right-handed pitchers and .239 on the road.
San Francisco, on the other hand, hits better in their own backyard (.278) than they do on the road and they would much rather face lefties than righties (.269 vs. .295). Guess what... they get their wish today as 9-game winner (and southpaw) Zach Duke takes the hill for the Pirates, ironically enough, against the same team and pitcher he faced just 10 days ago... Matt Cain and the SF Giants. Cain beat him in Pittsburgh (dominated him statistically) 4-3 and should have no problem doing it to him again this afternoon. Duke has lost four of his last five starts and hasn't allowed less than three earned runs in any of those games. This one might not be pretty, but it'll end in our favor as Cain will dominate the Pirates for at least seven innings and the Giants will roll the Pirates, 8-2.
BOUGHT,PAID AND CONFIRMED BY MARFA,IRONHORSE AND ME--------------------GL GUYS
I don't disagree with his pick but he obviously doesn't know too much about Adam LaRoche
LaRoche is terrible and most of his "production" came when the Pirates were down 5-7 runs or up 5-7 runs. Does Craig know Laroche was hitting .103 for July?
