Sunday's best MLB Mound Matchup
Jonathan Sanchez, San Francisco Giants vs. Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia Phillies
Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07 ERA)
The Giant’s don’t have two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum going for them on Sunday, but they might not lose too much in the way of their starting pitching. If anything at all.
Sanchez had a breakout season for San Francisco. In two previous years as a starter, he recorded ERAs of 5.01 and 4.24. That number plunged to 3.07 in 2010 and he also reached a double-digit win total (13) for the first time. Sanchez struck out 205 batters against 96 walks.
It was full steam ahead for the southpaw in his first career playoff appearance earlier this week against the Braves. In a critical Game 3 in Atlanta with the series tied 1-1, Sanchez went 7 1/3 innings and allowed just two hits and one run while striking out 11. He did not get the win due to a bullpen collapse, but the Giants still bounced back to win the game and—one day later—the series.
Another encouraging sign for San Francisco? Sanchez was absolutely awesome against the Phillies during the regular season. He won both of his starts and allowed only five hits and two runs while striking out 13 in 13 innings of work.
Roy Oswalt (21-10, 2.44 ERA)
This is why the Phillies went out and got Oswalt before the trade deadline; to step up in the postseason and to help them win another World Series title following their 2008 triumph.
Oswalt was unspectacular in last week’s Game 2 victory over the Reds, going five innings and allowing five hits, including two homers, and four runs (three earned). However, Oswalt still has outstanding numbers for his postseason career. In eight starts and nine total appearances he is 4-0 with a 3.83 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings.
In compiling a 21-10 record and 2.44 ERA this season, Oswalt made four starts against the Giants, more than he made against any other team except the Nationals. The righty went 1-3 and gave up 25 hits and 10 runs in 27 innings (3.33. ERA).
Going with Roy Halladay in Game 1 was a no-brainer, as it would have been for any team in the league. Choosing between Oswalt and Cole Hamels for Games 2 and 3, however, had to be a tough call. But perhaps manager Charlie Manuel considered this: in his career at Citizens Bank Park, Oswalt is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA.
Phillies draw MLB chalk money line in Game 2
By: Brad Young
Sunday’s National League Championship Series pitching matchup will be hard pressed to top Saturday’s opener. The first game of this series featured a pair of Cy Young recipients squaring off, while Game 2 pits two pitchers that went a combined 26-22 during the regular season.
San Francisco southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.00 ERA) continues to pitch some of his best ball of the season after last Sunday’s effort versus Atlanta in the NL Divisional Series. The 27-year-old finished the regular season with back-to-back victories before helping the Giants dump the Braves as a 122 MLB odds road underdog, 3-2. The Puerto Rico native tossed 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on two hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts on 105 pitches in a no decision.
The combined five runs failed to eclipse the seven-run closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 7-1 his past eight outings. That effort marked just the second time that the five-year veteran had eclipsed the 100-pitch barrier his last six starts.
Sanchez beat the Phillies twice during the regular season, going a combined 13 innings while surrendering two runs on five hits with seven walks and 13 strikeouts. The Giants prevailed April 26 as a 136 home underdog, 5-1, and Aug. 19 as a 168 road ‘dog, 5-2.
Sanchez got the better of the Phillies’ Roy Halladay in that April contest, and the former Old Dominican hurler had a one-hit shutout going into the ninth inning during the Aug. victory. The baseball betting ‘under’ cashed in both contests, and is 4-1 his previous five starts versus Philadelphia.
San Francisco has a 5-1 record its last six road games, and the team is 5-1 the previous six league championship outings. The Giants are also 4-0 in Sanchez’s past four starts versus a team with a winning record. San Francisco is just 5-14 its previous 19 meetings at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia counters with veteran Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.82 ERA), a midseason acquisition from Houston. The 33-year-old wrapped up the regular season with two no decisions and a relief appearance before picking up another no-decision Oct. 8 against Cincinnati in Game 1 of the NLDS.
The right-hander went five innings, yielding four runs (three earned) on five hits (two home runs) with a walk and five strikeouts on 76 pitches. The Phillies eventually prevailed as 187 home ‘chalk,’ 7-4, while the combined 11 runs toppled the 7 ½-run closing total. The Mississippi native has not eclipsed the 100-pitch total his past four starts.
Oswalt has faced the Giants four times this season, but just once as a member of the Philadelphia pitching staff. The 10-year veteran was reached for three runs on six hits (two home runs) with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings during an Aug. 17 encounter while a part of the Philadelphia rotation. The Phillies won that matchup as a 160 home favorite, 9-3, while the combined 12 runs went ‘over’ the 8 ½-run closing total.
Philadelphia is 5-0 its last five home games in the league championship heading into Saturday’s late opener, and 14-3 its past 17 home playoff games. The Phillies are also 5-0 in Oswalt’s previous five home starts versus a team with a winning record.
Sunday’s forecast for Philadelphia calls for sunny skies, with a high of 72 degrees and a low of 45.