Good, fundamentally sound baseball beats bad baseball each day of the week. This is the primary reason that the San Francisco Giants have a 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Tigers heading into Game 3 tonight.
An unwritten rule in baseball is that you make your breaks. A bunt that hugs the third base lane, a grounder that bounces off the bag on the same side of the infield and double play giving you a two-run cushion. While these might not be pretty plays and some luck could be involved, the Giants have made their breaks through the first two games of the World Series.
They now look to take a commanding 3-0 series lead in Comarica tonight. The pitching matchup seems to favor the roadtripping Giants, but as we all know Detroit plays some damn good baseball at home
Let’s take a gander at what Game 3 might have to offer.
Anibal Sanchez played the first six seasons of his career with the Florida/Miami Marlins, consistently under performing as it relates to his talent level. However, Sanchez has posted an ERA under 4 in each of the last four seasons, representing a solid level of consistency.
The righty went 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 starts with the Tigers following a mid-season trade from Miami. Sanchez also posted a 3-2 record with a 3.47 ERA in six starts at Comerica during the regular season. Sanchez has been impressive in two postseason starts this year. He has given up just two earned in 13.2 innings, getting the win against the New York Yankees in the ALCS and losing a pitchers duel against Brett Anderson and the Oakland Athletics in the ALDS. Opponents are batting just .174 against Sanchez in those two starts.
Overall, Giant’ hitters just haven’t had a whole lot of success against Sanchez in his career. Angel Pagan, who faced the righty a lot when he was with the New York Mets, has six hits in 23 at-bats. The struggling Hunter Pence has faced Sanchez a total of 18 times and has six hits for great .333 average.
Meanwhile, the heart of San Francisco’s order has done little against Sanchez. Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey are a combined 2-for-14 (.143 average). If those two struggle tonight, the Giants are going to be in deep trouble as 5-8 in the Giants lineup has done little in the playoffs.
What can I say about Ryan Vogelsong that hasn’t been said already? He has been one of the Giants' most consistent players over the course of the last two seasons, compiling a 27-16 record during that span.
More importantly, the veteran has been dominating in three postseason starts this year. San Francisco has won all of his starts by a combined 15-3 score. For his part, Vogelsong has given up just three runs and 11 hits in his three starts, accumulating a 1.42 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP in the process.
San Francisco has to feel good about having him on the mound tonight.
While the sample size isn’t too great as it relates to Tigers hitters against Vogelsong, there are a couple things we can take out of it. First, Omar Infante is definitely someone to watch tonight. He has seven hits in 11 at-bats against the lanky righty. Meanwhile, Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera have a combined one hit in eight at-bats.
As with Posey and Sandoval in the Giants lineup, Detroit will win this game only if Fielder and Cabrera come through. If not, it is looking at 3-0 deficit heading into Game 4 tomorrow afternoon.
Prediction
I am going to go out on a limb and say that San Francisco continues its hot play behind what has been a dominating Vogelsong during the playoffs.
In the end, the Giants will come up with the plays when they need to. Timely hitting, solid defense and great overall ball.