With a six game lead with six games to play the Arizona Diamondbacks are one win away from clinching the NL West title and their first playoff berth since 2007. On the other side of the coin, the San Francisco Giants have a bit of a heartbeat left in the Wild Card race, though they’ll send Matt Cain to the bump Friday to keep the Black and Orange’s season from flatlining.
Cain (12-10 2.86 ERA) allowed just three runs on five hits in five innings of work against the Rockies during a 12-5 Giants rout at Coors Field in his last time out, and will need something similar tonight if they want to get a win. Cain is 4-1 with a 3.97 ERA in five starts against Arizona this season and 10-5 with a 3.45 ERA against them in his career, so at least history will be on his side.
The D’backs will look to Joe Saunders (12-12 3.66 ERA) to clinch this evening, who earned his ninth road victory with 8 and 2/3 innings of work against the Padres in his last start. He’s struggled against the Giants though, going 0-3 with a 5.61 ERA in three starts this season.
If the Giants don’t make the playoffs, they will be the the first defending champion to miss the postseason since the Cardinals back in 2007.
First pitch is set for 6:40 pm PT this evening with coverage on CSN Bay Area and KNBR 680 AM.
For more on the Giants, check out McCovey Chronicles.