Ryan Vogelsong (9-9, 4.05 ERA) and Lance Lynn (10-8, 2.94 ERA) are on the hill in the second of a three-game series between the San Francisco Giants (68-59) and the St. Louis Cardinals (82-45) at AT&T Park. The Giants won the last game 5-4 and San Francisco leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 4:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 29 and can be seen on CSBy and FSMW.
Vogelsong pitched 3.1 innings in his last outing, surrendering three runs, striking out two and walking four in a 5-2 defeat to the Pirates. Brandon Belt (.276, 63 Rs, 17 HRs, 60 RBIs, 8 SBs) continued his strong play yesterday, going 2 for 5 with two runs. Lynn went 6.0 innings, surrendering two runs, striking out three and walking two in a 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks in his most recent start. Matt Carpenter (.258, 75 Rs, 19 HRs, 67 RBIs, 3 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run.
St. Louis is a slim -115 favorite over San Francisco. According to the oddsmakers, the Over/Under (O/U) is currently seven runs. The Giants have an overall money line of +354 and a record as the underdog of 30-30. San Francisco has recorded a disappointing 1-6 record as the underdog over its last 10 games. The Giants are the top team in the NL at limiting hits during home games, allowing only 7.9 hits per contest to their opponents this season.
In the other locker room, St. Louis is coming in with an overall money line of +2,671 and an impressive record of 69-29 as the favorite. St. Louis’s pitching staff has set the standard for its league, with an NL-low 2.98 ERA on the road.
The Giants have a 51-47 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Lynn takes the mound. Vogelsong (RHP) will be on the hill against the Cardinals, who have a very good 64-30 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – StL, O/U – Over
Notes
San Francisco earned its 16th shutout of the season in its last game. St. Louis has been shut out 10 times this season.
Having scored zero runs in their last game, the Giants are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Cardinals have a 13-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs.
When they are outhit, the Giants are 5-39. The Cardinals have a 21-30 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling near the bottom of the league based on total home runs this season, San Francisco ranks 22nd with 108 homers and St. Louis is 23rd with 107.
Ranking sixth, St. Louis is in the top 10 of the league in hits, notching 8.60 per game. San Francisco ranks in the top five at second with 9.20.
Ranking 16th, St. Louis is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.714). San Francisco ranks in the top 10 at seventh with an OPS of .736.
The Cardinals are 33-30 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Giants are 30-43 when they allow at least one homer.
