San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong has become one of the best stories in all of baseball this season, and will take the mound Friday in his last start before his first All-Star game against the New York Mets at AT&T Park.
Vogelsong (6-1 2.13 ERA) got a no decision in a loss to Detroit last week, but has been almost untouchable at AT&T, sporting a 3-1 record there with a 1.01 ERA and a 9 to 30 BB/K ratio. But regardless the situation the man keeps his composure, a large factor as to why he's been so solid thus far and a newly found mainstay in the Giants rotation.
The Mets will send out knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (4-7 3.68 ERA) who will be looking for some revenge from his last start against San Francisco. The G-Men roughed him up for six runs in six innings back in the beginning of May at Citi Field. He left his last start early due to tightness in his glute, but is ready to go Firday night.
The Mets will also be without the services of Jose Reyes once again, a player that might be in the crosshairs of GM Brian Sabean at the trade deadline.
On a side note, the Giants won their 50th game Thursday night, only the sixth Giants team since 1990 to record 50 or more wins before the All-Star break. The last time a San Francisco team had 50 or more wins at the break was 2002 when they went 57-37 before the break, and all the way to the World Series.
First pitch is set for 7:15 pm PT this evening with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.