SATURDAY FIRST 5 INNINGS PLAY (YTD 1-2)

[jimmythegreek]

San Francisco/Arizona over 5 -125:
While we don't have to go through that rough 10 loss start out of the gate last season once again, we got jobbed on Thursday night as there were plenty of opportunities for both teams to clinch our play. Detroit provided most of the offense early but Baltimore used a charge in the later innings as the 7-5 final easily eclipsed the total of 9.5. Tonight we look to end the mini-slide as San Francisco takes on Arizona from Chase Field in an attempt to put a stranglehold on this 4 game series. Last night Joe Panik provided all the offense for the Giants belting a 3 run HR off of Shelby Miller (1-4) while Jeff Samardzija (5-2) scattered a run on 8 hits over 8 strong innings. Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect 9th for his 8th save in the 3-1 final.

The snakes hand the ball this evening to Patrick Corbin this evening. In his last start he looked as if he is beginning to regain the form that propelled him to 14 wins in 2013 after a rough start thus far this season. The 26 year old southpaw hasn't won since April 17th, but pitched 7 scoreless yielding just 5 hits along with striking out 5 in his last outing, a no-decision against Atlanta. Arizona eventually won the game in extra innings. Corbin faces a Giants lineup that is hitting .263 overall averaging nearly 4.6 runs per contest with a nice balance of power throughout the lineup. Free swinging Hunter Pence (.289 5 27) is tied for the team lead in HR and is tops on the club with 27 RBI despite mired in a 4 for 20 slump (.200). Panik (.256 5 17) has a 4 game hitting streak (.294) along with 2 HR and 5 RBI in his last 2 games. Brandon Belt (.306 4 22) is tops on the Giants in batting but has been slumping as of late going just 2 for his last 14 (.143). Buster Posey (.268 4 12) after 9 hits in 4 games a few weeks back has cooled off considerably going just 3 for his last 28 (.107). 

The Giants counter with a struggling Jake Peavy (1-4 8.57) who comes in being lit up like a pinball machine in 2016. Winless since 4/23, the 34 year old 15 year righty who has dropped 3 consecutive starts endured some control problems in his last outing against Toronto. Peavy surrendered 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 5 and striking out 6 in a 3-1 home loss to the Blue Jays. He faces an Arizona lineup hitting .267 this season also averaging about 4.5 runs per contest with plenty of power up and down the lineup. Jean Segura (.351 5 18) is 5th in the NL in batting and extended his hitting streak to 11 games last night (.383). Wellington Castro (.301 7 19) is tied with Paul Goldschmidt (.225 7 19) for the team lead in HR and RBI. Chris Hermann will be starting in his place this evening behind the plate. Brandon Durry (.298 6 13) has filled in nicely in the outfield in his second season from the #2 hole. Yasmany Thomas (.297 5 14) will also be resting this evening with Rickie Weeks starting in the cleanup role. While the Diamondbacks' rough start at the quarter pole is mostly linked to erratic starting pitching and vulnerable relief, they can only hope Goldschmidt shakes through his slow start with 43 K's in just 123 at bats. 

Another juicy price this evening in an interesting venue which favors pitching in some areas and the batters in others. While the ball takes off like a launching pad from home plate thanks to thin air when the retractable roof of Chase Field is open, the deepest part of the park is left and dead center field at 413 feet. The dimensions become a lot more favorable down the lines at about 330, but both of these teams have put up some impressive numbers offset by some vulnerable starting pitching. Corbin can use several more solid starts to give him momentum in the starting rotation while Peavy is desperate and might be pitching to avoid a revised role in the bullpen moving forward. Best of luck however you play!

[Moldoveanu]

Holy fk man wtf a book