The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants begin a pivotal three-game series starting Friday at Dodgers Stadium.
The Dodgers are in the driver’s seat in the NL West, with a solid five game lead over the once surging Colorado Rockies.
“Our destiny is in our hands right now, and we don’t need any help from anybody,” manager Joe Torre said on the Dodgers Web site. “It’s a matter of going out and doing the job ourselves.”
With a three and a half game deficit in the wildcard race and only a little over two weeks left in the regular season, the Giants are in a must win situation.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said on the Giants Web site, “We can’t be looking for help. We have to go out there and take care of business.”
The Giants took care of business against the Rockies earlier in the week, taking two of three games. They are now done with the Rockies this season. While they will no doubt be keeping tabs on the Rockies, Bochy hopes to keep his team focused.
“You can’t be looking at scoreboards right now,” Bochy said. “It’s natural, after the game, you’re going to look at what’s going on in baseball and see what other teams have done. But during the course of our game, our focus has to be on what needs to get done. And that can’t change.”
Sanchez pitched a memorable no-hitter against the Padres in July, but has not faired well against the Dodgers this season going 0–3.
Padilla signed with the Dodgers in mid-August after being released by the Texas Rangers. When asked about the trade, he said, “It’s fun being here. I’m very happy. The boys welcomed me and it gives me more confidence. It’s very simple: I just have to pitch.”
He has started four times since the trade, winning three with one no-decision.
Saturday’s afternoon game will feature new Giant, Brad Penny (10–8), against new Dodger, Jon Garland (10–11).
Penny, acquired from Boston at the end of August, has won all three starts for his new team. Penny will be returning to Dodgers Stadium to face his former teammates. He can expect a less than warm welcome from Dodger fans after leaving the Dodgers on bad terms.
After beating his former team last Sunday, he was asked if the victory was special. “Not really. I guess a little bit.”
The Dodgers will use Garland instead of Chad Billingsley after Billingsley was battered last weekend for eight hits and three runs against the Giants.
Sunday afternoon’s lineup will see Giants ace Tim Lincecum (14–5) against Randy Wolf (10–6).
Wolf will make his second start after hyper-extending his pitching elbow. His first start back was a little “rusty” as he put it. “I was rusty, missing up a lot early. I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be.
Wolf has one win and one no-decision against the Giants this season.
Lincecum has one win and two no-decisions against the Dodgers, although he has been a little shaky on the road this season with a 5-4 record.
The Dodgers and Giants have met 15 times this season with the Dodgers wining nine. The Giants are looking to gain on the slumping Rockies while the Dodgers are looking cruise to the pennant.
The Dodgers and Giants have been long-time archrivals and this final regular season match-up with a little something extra at stake could be the next great chapter in the rivalry.
The Dodgers are in the driver’s seat in the NL West, with a solid five game lead over the once surging Colorado Rockies.
“Our destiny is in our hands right now, and we don’t need any help from anybody,” manager Joe Torre said on the Dodgers Web site. “It’s a matter of going out and doing the job ourselves.”
With a three and a half game deficit in the wildcard race and only a little over two weeks left in the regular season, the Giants are in a must win situation.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said on the Giants Web site, “We can’t be looking for help. We have to go out there and take care of business.”
The Giants took care of business against the Rockies earlier in the week, taking two of three games. They are now done with the Rockies this season. While they will no doubt be keeping tabs on the Rockies, Bochy hopes to keep his team focused.
“You can’t be looking at scoreboards right now,” Bochy said. “It’s natural, after the game, you’re going to look at what’s going on in baseball and see what other teams have done. But during the course of our game, our focus has to be on what needs to get done. And that can’t change.”
Pitching Match-Ups
The Friday night matchup will feature Jonathan Sanchez (6–12) for the Giants versus Vincente Padilla (11–6) for the Dodgers.Sanchez pitched a memorable no-hitter against the Padres in July, but has not faired well against the Dodgers this season going 0–3.
Padilla signed with the Dodgers in mid-August after being released by the Texas Rangers. When asked about the trade, he said, “It’s fun being here. I’m very happy. The boys welcomed me and it gives me more confidence. It’s very simple: I just have to pitch.”
He has started four times since the trade, winning three with one no-decision.
Saturday’s afternoon game will feature new Giant, Brad Penny (10–8), against new Dodger, Jon Garland (10–11).
Penny, acquired from Boston at the end of August, has won all three starts for his new team. Penny will be returning to Dodgers Stadium to face his former teammates. He can expect a less than warm welcome from Dodger fans after leaving the Dodgers on bad terms.
After beating his former team last Sunday, he was asked if the victory was special. “Not really. I guess a little bit.”
The Dodgers will use Garland instead of Chad Billingsley after Billingsley was battered last weekend for eight hits and three runs against the Giants.
Sunday afternoon’s lineup will see Giants ace Tim Lincecum (14–5) against Randy Wolf (10–6).
Wolf will make his second start after hyper-extending his pitching elbow. His first start back was a little “rusty” as he put it. “I was rusty, missing up a lot early. I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be.
Wolf has one win and one no-decision against the Giants this season.
Lincecum has one win and two no-decisions against the Dodgers, although he has been a little shaky on the road this season with a 5-4 record.
The Dodgers and Giants have met 15 times this season with the Dodgers wining nine. The Giants are looking to gain on the slumping Rockies while the Dodgers are looking cruise to the pennant.
The Dodgers and Giants have been long-time archrivals and this final regular season match-up with a little something extra at stake could be the next great chapter in the rivalry.
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