In one of the most star-studded first-time pitching matchups of the season, Tim Lincecum of the San Francisco Giants will start the concluding game of this series against Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. After Brandon Belt and Madison Bumgarner led the Giants to a 6-1 win on Tuesday, the team will look to grab another tough win over the NL East-leading Nationals. If Lincecum is able to match his past few consistent starts, the Giants might squeak out a series victory over a very strong Nationals team.
In his last three starts, Lincecum has been 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Even though his season numbers aren't as impressive as Strasburg's 13-5 record and 2.90 ERA, this pitching matchup will feature two starters adept at striking out opposing batters, with Strasburg leading the National League averaging 11.21 per nine innings and Lincecum third at 9.37 per nine innings. Both pitchers' electric stuff and star quality will make for a much-anticipated matchup.
In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Pablo Sandoval contributed to the win by scoring a run in the sixth inning and an RBI sacrifice fly to deep center to score Melky Cabrera in the big eighth inning that blew the game out of reach for the Giants. With Belt having a career game, Sandoval returning from injury, and new additions Hunter Pence and Marco Scutaro both having strong games on Tuesday, the Giants lineup will look to do the same against the Nationals right-hander who is motivated to make the most of his last starts before getting shutdown before the end of the season.
Matchup:
The San Francisco Giants will host the Washington Nationals at AT&T Park located in San Francisco, CA on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 12:45 p.m. PT. This will be the third game in a three-game series.
Season series:
Nationals lead series 4-1.
Standings:
Washington comes into the matchup with a 72-45 record and in first place in the National League East. They are 40-23 when playing on the road and have won eight of their last 10 games.
San Francisco enters the game with a 64-53 record and in first place in the National League West. They are 35-25 when playing at home and have won six of their last 10 games.
Starting pitcher matchup:
Washington: Stephen Strasburg
2012 season: 13-5, 2.90 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 166 Ks
Numbers vs. Giants in last five years: 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 8 Ks
San Francisco: Tim Lincecum
2012 season: 6-12, 5.35 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 142 Ks
Numbers vs. Nationals in last five years: 1-2, 4.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 37 Ks
Where to watch and listen to the game:
The game can be watched live locally at the following:
In Washington: MASN 2 HD, MLBN, 106.7 The Fan, WHFS 1580, and WFED 1500
In San Francisco: CSN-BA HD, MLBN, and KNBR 680
Lineups:
Washington: 2B Steve Lombardozzi, CF Bryce Harper, 3B Ryan Zimmerman, 1B Adam LaRoche, LF Michael Morse, RF Jayson Werth, SS Danny Espinosa, C Kurt Suzuki, P Stephen Strasburg
San Francisco: CF Angel Pagan, 2B Ryan Theriot, LF Melky Cabrera, C Buster Posey, 3B Pablo Sandoval, RF Hunter Pence, 1B Brandon Belt, SS Brandon Crawford, P Tim Lincecum
Sources:
Stars aligned in Strasburg-Lincecum matchup, MLB.com
Washington Nationals/San Francisco Giants Box Score Tuesday August 14, 2012, Yahoo! Sports
Giants lineup: Posey catching Lincecum, CSN Bay Area
More from this contributor:
Giants Start Series Against Best Second-Half Team in Baseball in Nationals: Fan's Preview
Fan's Preview: Have the San Francisco Giants Turned Around Their Offensive Struggles at Home?
Matt Cain Faces Rockies in Hopes of Turning Around Second Half of Season: Fan's Preview
Giants' Tim Lincecum and Rockies' Tyler Chatwood face off again at AT&T Park: Fan's Preview
Austin Chang is a lifelong San Francisco Bay Area native, baseball fan, and supporter of the San Francisco Giants. Follow this Featured Contributor on Google+ and Twitter @_austinchang.
