This weekend, the San Francisco Giants will welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to AT&T Park. Winning eight of 13 games since the last time they met, the Giants have grown their lead in the NL West to 4 1/2 games despite a streak of poor outings by the rotation. Tim Lincecum, who has two wins and a 2.55 ERA against the Dodgers this season, hopes to turn the team's fortune around when it comes to starting pitcher performances.
Friday will be a night of firsts, as two Dodgers will be reintroduced to the Giants. Familiar with the Giants during his time as a member of the San Diego Padres, Adrian Gonzalez gets his first chance to face the NL West-leading team since his trade from the Boston Red Sox. In his career, he is 8-for-39 with one RBI and 16 strikeouts against Lincecum. Josh Beckett, tonight's starter for the Dodgers, will be making his first start against the Giants since 2005 when he was a member of the then-Florida Marlins. In his career, Beckett is 4-3 with a 3.35 ERA in seven starts against the Giants.
Tonight also marks the debut of Brandon Belt in left field. After making 30 starts in left field last season, Belt has been used primarily at first base this season. Now, with Buster Posey seeing more starts at first base, both as a chance to rest his body and to continue the trend of not allowing him to catch Lincecum, and Xavier Nady's recent strained hamstring, Belt will make his first start in left field since September 27, 2011. Currently one of the hotter hitters for the Giants, the Giants are hoping this start in left field will not mess with his recent success hitting the ball.
Matchup:
The San Francisco Giants will host the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park located in San Francisco, CA on Friday, September 7, 2012 at 7:15 p.m. PT. This will be the first game in a three-game series.
Season series:
Giants lead season series 7-5.
Standings:
Los Angeles comes into the matchup with a 73-65 record and in second place in the National League West. They are 35-32 when playing on the road and have won four of their last 10 games.
San Francisco enters the game with a 77-60 record and in first place in the National League West. They are 38-30 when playing at home and have won six of their last 10 games.
Starting pitcher matchup:
Los Angeles: Josh Beckett
2012 season: 6-12, 5.03 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 109 Ks
Career numbers vs. Giants: 4-3, 3.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 33 Ks
Career numbers at AT&T Park: 2-1, 2.70 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 18 Ks
San Francisco: Tim Lincecum
2012 season: 8-14, 5.21 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 162 Ks
Career numbers vs. Dodgers: 7-5, 2.80 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 113 Ks
Career numbers at AT&T Park: 39-30, 3.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 654 Ks
Where to watch and listen to the game:
The game can be watched and heard live locally at the following:
In Los Angeles: PRIME, MLBN, 570 Fox Sports L.A., & KTNQ 1020
In San Francisco: CSN-BA HD, MLBN, KNBR 680, & KTRB 860
Lineups:
Los Angeles: 2B Mark Ellis, LF Shane Victorino, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, CF Matt Kemp, SS Hanley Ramirez, RF Andre Ethier, 3B Adam Kennedy, C A.J. Ellis, P Josh Beckett
San Francisco: CF Angel Pagan, 2B Marco Scutaro, 3B Pablo Sandoval, 1B Buster Posey, RF Hunter Pence, LF Brandon Belt, C Hector Sanchez, SS Brandon Crawford, P Tim Lincecum
Sources:
Beckett, Lincecum meet to begin showdown series, MLB.com
Adrian Gonzalez Profile, Yahoo! Sports
Josh Beckett Career Split Stats, Yahoo! Sports
Giants lineup: Belt to roam left field, CSN Bay Area
More from this contributor:
Fan's Preview: Will Madison Bumgarner Continue Giants' Pitching Woes?
Giants Look to Stay Undefeated in September Against Diamondbacks: Fan's Preview
San Francisco Giants Return Home for Division Play Against Arizona Diamondbacks: Fan's Preview
San Francisco Giants Face Chicago Cubs in Last Non-Division Game: Fan's Preview
San Francisco Giants to Add Xavier Nady, Five Others when Active Roster Expands: Fan's Take
Austin Chang is a lifelong San Francisco Bay Area native, baseball fan, and supporter of the San Francisco Giants. Follow this Featured Contributor on Twitter @_austinchang.
