NLCS Preview
By Kevin Rogers
The National League Championship Series is set with terrific pitching matchups in the first two games when the Phillies battle the Giants. San Francisco is in this round for the first time since 2002, when the Giants won the pennant over the Cardinals. Philadelphia is no stranger to the NLCS, making it for the third consecutive season.
The Phillies cruised past the Reds in a three-game sweep of the NL Central champions. Philadelphia was sparked by Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the series opening 4-0 victory, only the second no-hitter in postseason history. The Phillies needed a comeback in Game 2, rallying from a 4-0 deficit to stun the Reds, 7-4 and take a commanding 2-0 series lead heading back to Cincinnati. Cole Hamels finished off the sweep with a complete-game shutout in Game 3 as the Phillies won, 2-0.
The Giants played in closer contests with all four games against the Braves being decided by one run apiece. San Francisco split the first two contests at AT&T Park, highlighted by Tim Lincecum's complete-game gem in the series opener. Atlanta managed to rally from a 4-0 hole to upend San Francisco in Game 2 with a 5-4 triumph. The Giants needed late comebacks at Turner Field in Games 3 and 4, capped off by a pair of RBI's from Cody Ross in the series clincher on Monday night.
The series sets up beautifully with Lincecum and Halladay taking the mound in Saturday's Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park. Lincecum (16-10, 3.43 ERA) struck out 14 in his playoff debut against the Braves, the sixth win in his last seven starts. Following a horrible August in which the two-time Cy Young Award winner went winless in five outings, Lincecum has responded by allowing one earned run or less five times since September 1.
The last time Lincecum faced the Phillies was one of the wilder finishes in baseball this season. On April 28 at AT&T Park, the Giants led the Phillies, 4-1 as Lincecum struck out 11 in 8.1 innings. Closer Brian Wilson came in and ultimately allowed a bases-loaded double to Jayson Werth to tie the game at 4-4. The teams exchanged runs in the 10th inning before the Phillies plated two in the 11th to hold off the Giants, 6-5.
Halladay (21-10, 2.44 ERA) will likely grab the Cy Young torch from Lincecum this season after posting a brilliant campaign in his first season with the Phillies. The Philadelphia ace has given up just two hits in his last two starts, both complete-game shutouts. Similarly to Lincecum, Halladay has produced fantastic numbers since the start of September, winning each of his previous six outings (all as $2.00 or higher favorites).
Philadelphia is 13-5 in Halladay's 18 home starts this season, while owning a 2.18 ERA at Citizens Bank Park. The former AL Cy Young Award winner did not face San Francisco this season, as Halladay last took on the Giants back in 2004, falling 8-5 as a $1.30 road favorite. To outline how long ago that game was, Dustin Hermanson started on the mound for the Giants, while Marquis Grissom batted third (going 0-5).
Roy Oswalt and Matt Cain are slated to take the hill in Sunday's Game 2 in Philadelphia. Oswalt (13-13, 2.76 ERA) was touched up for four runs (three earned) in five innings of Game 2 against Cincinnati, but the Phillies got the righty off the hook with seven unanswered runs in the final four innings. Despite that subpar outing, the Phillies are 11-1 in Oswalt's last 12 starts, including a 7-0 mark at home.
Cain (13-11, 3.14 ERA) picked up a no-decision in his last start, allowing one unearned run and seven hits in 6.2 innings in Game 2 against Atlanta. The Giants built a 4-0 lead for Cain, that included the pitcher delivering an RBI single in the second inning. However, the Braves managed a comeback on the Giants' bullpen to tie the game at 4-4 before Rick Ankiel's solo homer in the 11th to win it.
The Giants have not been a good play when Cain starts on the highway, as San Francisco is 8-9 in his 17 away starts. Run support has always been an issue for Cain, and it will turn into one on Sunday as the Giants averaged 3.1 runs/game in his road outings. In his only start against the Phillies this season, Cain gave up five runs (two earned) in six innings as Philadelphia romped San Francisco, 8-2 on August 18.
The two teams split six meetings this season, with the home team going 2-1 at their venue. In each instance when the home club had the opportunity to sweep, the visiting team claimed the third game of the series.
The Phillies are a $2.50 favorite to win this series, while the Giants are listed as a $2.10 underdog to claim the NL pennant.
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