What started as a best-of-seven NLCS between the Giants and Cardinals now stands as a best-of-five.
After splitting the first two games in San Francisco, St. Louis now hosts the next three on their home turf. The Cardinals utilized an early six-run lead to take Game 1 in 6-4 fashion, while the G-Men out-slugged—and pitched—the Cards to a 7-1 victory on Monday.
Kyle Lohse (16-3, 2.86 ERA) takes the ball for St. Louis. Giants’ ace Matt Cain (16-5, 2.79 ERA) will toe the rubber for San Francisco.
Lohse has pitched fantastically in two games in the 2012 postseason. He earned the win in the wild card one-and-done playoff against the Braves, holding Atlanta to two runs over 5.2 innings.
He pitched even better in Game 4 against the Nationals. Despite not getting the W, he limited Washington to two hits and one run over seven strong. Through two games, Lohse has given up just three runs and two walks over 12.2 innings while striking out 11.
His counterpart, meanwhile, hasn’t fared quite as well. Cain has surrendered six runs over 10.2 innings in two starts against the Reds. However, he did pitch well enough in Game 5 of the NLDS to push the Giants into the next round. He struck out nine in those outings.
The Cardinals’ 16-game winner did not face the Giants this season, but went 8-1 with a 2.33 ERA at Busch Stadium. Cain, on the other hand, would certainly like to forget his five-run and eight-hit losing effort in St. Louis in 2012. He did win his other start at home against the Cards, though, albeit allowing eight hits and four runs through six innings.
Intensifying the drama aside from the usual playoff implications is the bad blood between the two clubs.
Carlos Beltran served his role as player rental in 2011 for the Giants when they gave up star pitching prospect Zack Wheeler to acquire him for the stretch run. Beltran promptly signed with the Cardinals over the offseason so he could play for a contender. It stands to reason that the Giants didn’t qualify as such a team in his eyes.
Moreover, fellow outfielder Matt Holiday has been the focus of contempt for the Giants organization—Cain especially—ever since his playing day in Colorado. Compounding the animosity is Holliday’s aggressive slide into Marco Scutaro at second base in an attempt to break up a double play in Game 2. The perceivably unnecessary collision appeared more like a linebacker taking out a diminutive and unsuspecting wide receiver.
Luckily for the Giants, Scutaro is presumably okay after x-rays were negative following an early exit from the game. Still, the team listed him as having an injured hip and questions will remain regarding his status moving forward (per MLB.com). Before leaving with the injury, though, he managed to exact revenge with a two-run single that Holliday subsequently booted, allowing another run to score.
You can expect the bad blood to spill over into Game 3, despite Holliday’s contrition after the game.
“In hindsight, I wish I could have started my slide a step earlier,” said Holliday in addition to claiming non-intent to injure Scutaro (per MLB.com).
Cain will definitely remember the slide that was “over the line” when he steps onto the mound to face the Cardinals’ outfielder (per MLB.com). He’ll also remember the three career home runs Holliday has against him. Don’t be surprised if Cain throws one “high-and-tight” during the initial at-bat.
As far as other noteworthy matchups go, the Giants’ starter will also be wary of Beltran’s .389 lifetime head-to-head average, not to mention the slugger’s second-most postseason big flies in National League history. For the Cardinals, Lohse has not allowed a single home run to any Giants hitter. That said, Ryan Theriot’s .545 average and Hunter Pence’s 13 hits in 44 lifetime at-bats will draw his attention.
In case either starter goes down early, both teams feature stellar bullpens that have not failed to impress through the first two games. The Cardinals’ unit has worked 9.1 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out eight. San Francisco’s contingent has blanked its opponent through 7.1 frames.
Come 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Mike Matheny’s club hopes Lohse’s dominance and the team’s second-highest winning percentage at home during the regular season pays dividends.
The Giants will bank on their 3-0 road record in the 2012 playoffs as their ace in the back pocket.