Paul Goldschmidt gets to face his favorite pitcher tonight. Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Diamondbacks are now 31-45 this season and things won’t be any easier this weekend. Into town come the San Francisco Giants who own a 43-29 mark, sitting in first place in the National League West by four games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. So far, the D’backs are 1-3 on this none game home slate but if there is any good news for the Snakes it is this. Notorious D’back killers Brandon Belt and Angel Pagan are both hurting and will not be playing this weekend for the Giants. Belt has been out for six weeks due to a broken thumb. Four of his nine home runs in 2014 have come against the D’backs. Pagan has not played since Saturday because of an ailing back. Every time the Giants have a big inning against the D’backs, Pagan seems to be right in the middle of it. Perhaps we will see the Major League debut of Matt Stites, who was called up by the D’backs on Thursday.
SoDo Mojo
Game 1: Josh Collmenter (4-4, 4:05 ERA) vs Tim Lincecum (5-4, 4.81 ERA)
Collmenter has pitched pretty well since becoming a full time starter at the end of April. I would prefer he goes back to his role as super bullpen guy but given the state of the D’backs’ rotation, he will probably remain a starter for the rest of this season. Paul Goldschmidt‘s favorite pitcher takes the hill tonight for San Fran. Lincecum has pitched 10 innings against Arizona in 2014 and has given up 11 earned runs. Tomahawk recorded a save against the Giants on April 9th by tossing four shutout innings.
Game 2: Brandon McCarthy (1-9, 5.18 ERA) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (4-3, 3.94 ERA)
Well, it’s almost July and McCarthy has not been on the disabled list yet. Unfortunately, he leads the National League in losses with nine, earned runs at 53 and hits allowed with 107. He’s been good in certain games, bad in others and horrible in a couple. He left with the lead in the Chase Field opener in March vs. the Giants only to see the bullpen give it up late. Vogelsong has been hit around in his last two starts giving up nine runs and 16 hits over 11 innings.
Game 3: Mike Bolsinger (1-2, 5.70 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner (8-4, 2.85 ERA)
Bolsinger was called back to the D’backs after the injury to Bronson Arroyo. He gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings in Tuesday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. In 30 innings so far, the rookie has surrendered 40 hits and eight walks. Next to Tim Hudson, Bumgarner has been San Francisco’s best starting pitcher. He has gone at least seven innings over his last three starts and has won three of his last four decisions.