The San Francisco Giants can wrap up their second World Series Championship in three seasons with a win tonight against the Detroit Tigers. It has been a dominating performance in every aspect for San Francisco, who comes into Game 4 with a 3-0 series lead.
Detroit has been shutout for the second consecutive game, representing only the first time that feat has been accomplished since the Baltimore Orioles did it with Jim Palmer, Wally Bunker and Dave McNally in the 1966 Series against the Dodgers.
Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera are now a combined 3-for-19 (.158 AVG) in the first three games. Cabrera, the first Triple Crown Award Winner 45 years , popped out in a crucial bases-loaded at-bat yesterday and wasn’t seen in the Tigers locker room to answer questions following the game.
No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the World Series. This is the task that Detroit hopes to start when the host the Giants at Comerica tonight. The Tigers will be sending Max Scherzer to the mound with San Francisco countering its ace, Matt Cain.
Giants’ starters have now given up a total of two earned runs over the course of the last five postseason games (31 innings pitched), representing one of the most dominating playoff performances we have seen in the recent history of MLB.
Scherzer takes the mound after a 10-day hiatus. He last pitched in the Tigers’ series clinching victory over the New York Yankees in Game 4 of the ALCS. The youngster has given up just one earned run in two starts this postseason (11 innings). He was 7-3 with a 3.51 ERA in 14 home starts during the regular season.
Interestingly enough, San Francisco hitters have had success against Scherzer throughout his career, mainly when he pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Though, Marco Scutaro is 4-for-10 against the righty when both played in the American League. Meanwhile, Pablo Sandoval has two hits in eight at-bats, including a two-run homer against Scherzer.
San Francisco has decided to utilize Ryan Theriot in the DH role this evening. The veteran utility player has one hit in two career at-bats against Scherzer.
Meanwhile, in a splendid turn for San Francisco, it sends ace Matt Cain to the mound in his first start in the World Series. In fact, it seems that the Giants rotation has gone in reverse order thus far in the Fall Classic. They started Barry Zito, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong, in that order, during the first three meetings.
The advantage clearly seems to be on the Giants side in this matchup. Cain comes in on an extra day rest after dominating the St. Louis Cardinals to the tune of zero runs in 5.2 innings in Game 7 of the NLCS. That being said, Cain did struggle through his first three postseason starts this year. He gave up a total of nine runs in 17.1 inning during that span.
The only current Tigers with any experience against Cain are Prince Fielder (5-for-18, .278) and the pesky Omar Infante (7-for-21, .333). Outside of that, we really don’t have much of a sample size here.
For his part, Cain was 8-2 with a 3.56 on the road during the regular season. Cain’s sole World Series start came in Game 2 against the Texas Rangers back in 2010. He pitched 7.2 shutout innings in a dominating 9-0 Giants’ win.
Prediction
I just don’t think Detroit is going to put up too much of a battle here. No matter what it tells you, being down 3-0 in the World Series has to be inflating for the team.
Even a win here would most likely prolong their agony. I have the Giants coming through with a sweep and grabbing their second title in three seasons.