Philadelphia Phillies Weekend Preview: San Francisco Giants

The Philadelphia Phillies weekend series vs. the San Francisco Giants is previewed

The Philadelphia Phillies’ free fall continues. They managed to salvage a game against the Twins, but they’ve still lost 13 out of their last 15 games. This isn’t a great time for them to visit the Giants who sit in first place in the National League West. Then again, since they’ve spent the past week getting beaten by teams with losing records, does it really matter who they play?

San Francisco Giants

Record: 47-27 (1st in National League West)

Manager: Bruce Bochy

The last time they met

The Philadelphia Phillies traveled to San Francisco for a three-game series in July 2015. It wasn’t a good sign when Cole Hamels was battered for nine runs in the opener. Sure enough, the Phillies lost the next two games of the series as well.

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What’s the deal with the Giants

It’s an even year, so the Giants are due to win the World Series. The Giants have spent the past six years adhering to a “win the World Series then miss the playoffs the next year” pattern. With a 5.5 game lead in the National League West, they seem to be in good position to continue that pattern.

Offensively, the Giants don’t hit many home runs (next to last in the NL), but they make up for it with strong on-base skills. They also have an excellent front of their starting rotation in Johnny Cueto, Madison Bumgarner, and Jeff Samardzija.

Reason to hate the Giants

That whole three World Series in six years thing is kind of annoying, especially considering the 2010 win came at the Philadelphia Phillies’ expense. (Stupid Cody Ross!)

This is also the organization that employed Barry Bonds for most of his career. That earned them about fifty years of scorn from baseball fans.

Giants player who isn’t entirely horrible

Johnny Cueto may have been somewhat of a bust for the Royals after they traded for him last year, but upon returning to the National League, he’s re-established himself as a top starter. He leads the league with 11 wins (Yes, I know, pitcher wins can be misleading, but that’s still good) and has a sparkling 2.06 ERA.

His salary may become a burden on the Giants payroll at the end of his deal (He’ll make $21 million as a 35-year-old), but they won’t complain when he inevitably wins two games in the World Series this year.

Giants player who is horrible

Jake Peavy was once one of the best pitchers in the National League; he even won the Cy Young Award. But at age 35, he might be running out of steam.

He’s got an unsightly 5.47 ERA, and if that hadn’t made his year bad enough, he apparently also fell victim to a Ponzi scheme.

Phillies player who hasn’t sucked too badly

The Philadelphia Phillies have been awful over the past month. Just about every player has struggled in some way, but despite the overwhelming sucktitude, there have been a few players who have played well.

For instance, Cameron Rupp has had a solid month of June. He has four home runs so far this month, with a healthy .872 OPS. The Phillies may be below average offensively at most positions, but catcher is not one of them!

Reasons for optimism

1. The Phillies will win another series this season. I assure you, it will happen.
2. Aaron Nola can’t possibly be as bad as he’s looked his last few outings. Perhaps traveling to a known pitchers’ park will help him regain his stuff.
3. The Philadelphia Phillies offense has looked better this week. Sure, they were facing a lousy Twins’ pitching staff, but it’s nice to see some signs of life.

Reasons for pessimism

1. Just because the Philadelphia Phillies will win another series this season, that doesn’t mean it will happen this weekend.
2. Remember how I said Peavy was horrible? He’s actually been pretty good lately. He’s only allowed one run over his last two starts.
3. Something tells me the offensive outburst the Philadelphia Phillies showed against the Twins might vanish once they face guys like Bumgarner and Cueto.

Tweet of importance

Just think where they’d be without Odubel Herrera?

Next: Is Edubray Ramos Being Called Up?

Prediction

The Phillies will lose the first two games of the series, but Nola will indeed rebound and pitch a gem to win a pitchers’ duel against Cueto in the finale.