The 9-4 (Road: 4-2) San Diego Padres take on the 4-8 (Home: 4-2) San Francisco Giants at 10:15 EST tonight as part of our Baseball Instinct Game of the day!
TV: Padres – TV 4 San Diego, Giants - CSN-BA, On the Net – MLB.tv
Radio: Padres - XPRS 1090, XEMO 860, Giants - KNBR 680, KIQI. As always you can catch all games on MLB Game Day Audio.
Here’s a closer fantasy look at the game of the day!
Probable Padres starting pitcher: RHP Jake Peavy (2-1, 3.98 ERA in 2009)
From Andy Lefkowitz, STATS editor - The bounce-back season for NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy has been going quite well despite a less-than-stellar outing in his last start.
Peavy goes for his second win over San Francisco this year, and third in a row at AT&T Park on Tuesday night when the San Diego Padres (9-4) meet the Giants (4-8) in the start of a two-game series.
Peavy received all 32 first-place votes en route to winning the award for the top pitcher in 2007, but followed with one of the worst seasons of his seven-year career. The right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list for only the second time due to an elbow strain, and despite finishing with a 2.85 ERA, was 10-11 in 27 starts, making him the ace of a team that came within one loss of 100.
Peavy (2-1, 3.98 ERA) has rebounded nicely. After losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers on opening day, Peavy struck out 10 and came within two outs of a complete game in a 6-3 home win over San Francisco on April 11.
“Jake threw the ball great – he was efficient all night and didn’t look like he was taxed at any one time,” manager Bud Black told the Padres’ official Web site.
That improved Peavy to 12-8 with a 3.30 ERA In 24 career starts against the NL West rivals. He did not face the Giants in San Francisco last year, but was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts there in 2007.
Facing the New York Mets on Thursday in his first road start of 2009, Peavy gave up a three-run homer to Carlos Delgado in the first inning and permitted a season-high four walks over five innings, but got the decision in San Diego’s 6-5 win.
“This is the most gratifying win I think I’ve ever been a part of as a Padre, watching the total team effort that we gave tonight result in a win,” Peavy said.
Probable Giants starting pitcher: RHP Matt Cain (1-0, 2.08 ERA in 2009)
From Sports Network - Matt Cain will attempt to extend the Giants’ string of strong mound showings when he takes the ball for the home team tonight. The young right-hander has delivered two straight excellent starts to begin his 2009 season, having surrendered just three runs over 13 innings in outings against Milwaukee and Los Angeles.
Cain was last in action Wednesday at Dodger Stadium and held rival Los Angeles to two runs in a six-inning no decision. In his first start of the year, the 24-year-old fired seven frames of one-run ball to defeat Milwaukee at AT&T Park.
The former first-round pick has compiled a strong 2.92 earned run average over 15 lifetime starts against San Diego, but has just a 3-5 record during that span. In those five losses, the Giants have provided Cain with just 16 runs of support.
Cain won his first three career decisions against the Padres, but is 0-5 over his 10 most recent clashes with the club and hasn’t defeated San Diego since September 8, 2006.
He’ll likely have to be on top of his game tonight, as San Diego will be sending out ace Jake Peavy in the opener. The 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner already boasts a victory over the Giants this season, having permitted just three runs and racking up 10 strikeouts without a walk over 8 1/3 innings in a 6-3 Padres’ win on April 11.
2009 Fantasy hitting assets for the Padres: 1B Adrian Gonzalez is improving his trade value for the Padres. He’s hitting .289 with 5 hr’s, 11 runs, 11 bb, and 11 rbi’s. 2B/SS David Eckstein has no power and little speed. Sound’s inviting right? However, he is hitting .311 with 5 doubles, 6 runs, 5 rbis, and 5 bb.
Who’s hot: In addition to Bell, SP Josh Geer went 7 innings, giving up just 1 run, while walking none and striking out 4 in his season debut on Sunday.
Who’s not: SP Walter Silva just went on the DL. He has a 6.52 era after 2 starts and may not get his rotation spot back if Geer keeps it up.
Worth keeping an eye on: The previously mentioned Geer. If can keep up what he did against the Phillies (providing the pen doesn’t keep blowing it for him) he could turn into an asset at the end of fantasy rotations.
2009 Fantasy pitching assets for the Giants: Cain is 1-0 with a 2.08 era and 8 k’s after 2 starts. SP Tim Lincecum found his freak Saturday that made him the 2009 CY Young winner. He brought that plus 7.00 era down to 3.86 and has 23 k’s on the season.
Who’s hot: Lincecum mowed down 13 Diamondback hitters while giving up no walks or runs in a no decision on Saturday.
Who’s not: SP Barry Zito (of course) is off to a 0-2 start while posting a 10.00 era.
Worth keeping an eye on: SP Randy Johnson. The future 1st ballot hall of famer looked old and weak in his 1st 2 starts, however was brilliant on Sundday, going 7 innings, giving up no runs and striking out 7.
Interestingly enough: According to Baseball Instinct senior contributor Tom Belmont “ Matt Cain threw 112 pitches in his last start. Throughout his career, Cain does not follow up well after throwing over 110 pitches.”
KEY STAT: San Francisco won six of nine 2008 meetings with the Padres held at AT&T Park and went 13-5 against San Diego last season.
CONNECTIONS: Giant’s utility man Rich Aurilia is on his 2nd tour with the Giants and also played with the Padres in 2004. Padres SP Kevin Correia played for the Giants from 2003 to 2008. He was the Giant’s 2002 4th round draft pick. Giants SP Randy Johnson and Padres SS/SB David Eckstein played together for the 2008 Diamondbacks. Eckstein also played with Giants C Bengie Molina from 2001 to 2004, winning the world series in 2002.
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