SF Giants @ Padres series preview: Wild Card watch
The SF Giants may be leaving their summer swoon behind. As they turn the page to September, they can at least do so having won a critical Wild Card matchup against the Reds. After taking two of three against Cincinnati this week, the Giants have won their first series in their last eight tries, and just their second of August.
More importantly, the suddenly-unstoppable trifecta of Webb, Cobb, and Harrison have powered the Giants to a season series victory against the Reds. After winning both three-game sets against Cincinnati, the Giants have gone 4-2 against their NL Central foe, and do not play any more games against them for the rest of the year. That gives the Giants a massive tiebreaker over the Reds; should they both end the season with the same record, San Francisco will get seeding priority. If that seeding is for the third and final Wild Card spot, then the Giants advance and the Reds go home.
For the Giants, this final month is a critical month to secure as many of those season series tiebreakers as possible. They already have a few locked up; if the NL Central-leading Brewers take a tumble, the Giants are 5-2 against them. If the Giants can make up the 5.5 game gap between them and the Phillies, San Francisco holds a 4-2 advantage against Philadelphia. That 4-2 tiebreaker against the Reds looms large, while the Marlins (3-3) offer a split that could cause some accounting headaches if a tie happens.
The Padres, though, still have plenty of games left to play against San Francisco. They're 3-3 on the year against SF, with 7 games to play. The Giants could technically take the season series if they sweep the Padres at home this weekend. If they did so (or even if they just win the series), it would all but eliminate a San Diego team that's underperformed its talent level all year. At 7.5 GB of the third Wild Card spot, the Pads would need an incredible comeback to even sniff a playoff spot. Funnily enough, despite their slim hopes of contention, their record (62-72) is the same as the Nationals, who have trounced the Giants this year (1-5). Better hope Washington doesn't go on a tear.
Also be sure to keep an eye out for games against the Diamondbacks, who the Giants hold a 6-5 edge on, and the Cubs, who lead the Giants 1-2 on the season. Both teams have three more games to play against SF in September, and could sneak up and grab a tiebreaker yet if the Giants aren't careful.
Series Details
Who: SF Giants at San Diego Padres
Where: Petco Park, San Diego, California
When: August 31 - September 3, Thursday (6:40 PM) Friday (6:40 PM), Saturday (5:40 PM), and Sunday (1:10 PM). All times Pacific.
Giants' current streak: L1, 5-5 in last 10. 69-64 overall. 2nd place in NL West (14.0 GB), tied for 3rd WC spot
Padres' current streak: L2, 3-7 in last 10. 62-72 overall, 4th place in NL West (22.5 GB), 7.5 GB of 3rd WC spot
Projected starters
Thursday: TBD** vs. Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63 ERA)
Friday: TBD** vs. Michael Wacha (10-2, 2.84 ERA)
Saturday: Kyle Harrison* (1-0, 1.86 ERA) vs. Blake Snell* (11-9, 2.60 ERA)
Sunday: Alex Cobb (7-5, 3.57 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (5-6, 3.67 ERA)
*Indicates LHP
**Indicates opener
How to watch, listen
- SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
- Opposing broadcast: SDP Channel, XEMO 860/KWFN 97.3 FM
- National broadcasts: MLB Network (Thursday, out of market only)
- Live stream: fuboTV (start your free trial)
