San Francisco Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: Series Preview #1

Josh Collmenter is ready to be the ace. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1: April 6th: Giants@Diamondbacks

Pitching Matchup: LHP Madison Bumgarner vs. RHP Josh Collmenter

Game Notes:

It doesn’t get any harder than a matchup against the defending World Series champion Giants, and arguably one of the greatest World Series pitchers ever: Madison Bumgarner.

Bumgarner has been consistent throughout his first five seasons in the majors posting a 3.06 era reaching career highs in innings pitched (217 1/3), and strikeouts (219) in 2014.

This will be first start since he threw 52 2/3 innings in the postseason and keyed the Giants to their 3rd World Series in the last 5 seasons.

Here is one stat that the Diamondbacks can bank on: Bumgarner doesn’t have the greatest numbers in the seasons first month with a 9-8 record, and a 3.19 era lifetime in April.

In 106.2 career innings pitched against the Diamondbacks, he is 6-4 with a 2.70 era with 94 strikeouts. In 24 at bats against Bumgarner, A.J. Pollock has an average of .292 with 1 HR and 3 RBI’s.

Josh Collmenter will be making his first career Opening Day start after bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen over the past few years.

Last season he was the Diamondbacks ace posting a 3.54 era with 10 wins in 28 starts.

Collmenter has a deceptive delivery, and he knows how to pitch. He doesn’t have plus plus velocity, but he knows how to pitch.

The rotation will be the key for the Diamondbacks to win this year, and it has to get off to a good start with Collmenter tonight.