Jeff Samardzija (4-1, 3.32 ERA) and the San Francisco Giants (17-15) meet Eddie Butler (0-1, 6.75 ERA) and the Colorado Rockies (14-16) in the last of a four-game division series at AT&T Park. The Giants won the last game 2-1, and San Francisco leads the series 2-1. The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, May. 8 and will air on CSBA and RTRM.
In his last start, Samardzija pitched 8.0 innings, allowing one run, striking out nine and walking two in a 3-1 victory over the Reds. Brandon Belt (.317, 18 Rs, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run. The Rockies were unsuccessful against the Padres 6-3 the last time Butler pitched. He went 5.2 innings, giving up five runs, striking out three and walking one. Trevor Story (.273, 22 Rs, 11 HRs, 24 RBIs, 2 SBs) has been doing well, going 2 for 6 yesterday.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. Against teams in the NL West, the Giants have a SU record of 11-10. The Giants come into the game with the fifth-ranked scoring offense in the NL, averaging 0.0 runs per game. The Giants are a stellar hitting team with a .271 team batting average, one of the highest marks in the MLB. They have been very patient at the plate, ranking fourth in the NL with an average of 3.9 walks per game. The most recent 10 game stretch for San Francisco’s pitching staff has gone great. Over that span, San Francisco’s opponents are averaging 0.0 runs per game, below their season average of 0.0. The Giants are third in the NL in walks allowed with just 2.6 per game.
Against divisional foes, the Rockies are 10-10 SU. They sport the third-ranked offense in the NL, averaging 0.0 runs per game. Colorado is one of the top hitting teams in the league, converting .275 of their at-bats for hits. Colorado’s pitching staff has allowed an average of 0.0 runs per game during the last 10 games, lower than their season average of 0.0.
Predictions: SU Winner – COL
Notes
The Rockies lost their last game by a one-run margin. In games decided by one run, the Giants are 6-5. The Rockies are 1-5 in close games this season.
The Giants are coming off of a weak pitching game where they recorded four strikeouts. The Rockies have a record of 2-3 when opponents’ pitchers have four strikeouts or less.
It looks like the Giants have a slight leg up on the Rockies, as the Giants have won their last two games while the Rockies have lost their last two.
When they outhit their opponents, the Rockies are 12-3. The Giants have a 13-0 record when outhitting opponents.
San Francisco and Colorado both rank in the top five of the league in runs. San Francisco sits at third with 161 runs this season and Colorado ranks fourth with 160.
Ranking 14th, Colorado is in the top half of the league in walks, notching 96 this season. San Francisco ranks in the top five at second with 126.
When the Giants hit at least one home run, they are 10-9. When the Rockies hit at least one homer, they have an 11-7 record.
