The Giants are slowly pulling away in
the NL West. Wednesday San Fran looks to at least maintain a half-dozen game
divisional lead when it play a series rubber match vs. the Rockies at Coors
Field. Which way might we be leaning for a free MLB pick on this NL West
matchup?
Giants-Rockies
Wednesday warm-up
These teams have split the first two games of this series.
The Rockies won Monday night, 6-5, continuing Ryan Vogelsong's struggles and
cashing in as +130 home dogs on the MLB betting line. The Giants then got the
series to even with a 9-8 victory Tuesday, coming from down 4-0 to take a 9-5
lead, then hanging on and cashing in as -150 road favorites.
So both games in this series so far have played OVER on
the totals.
Heading into Wednesday, San Francisco leads the NL West by
six games over the second-place Dodgers. But the Giants have fallen 5.5 games
back of the Central-leading Cincinnati Reds in the battle for the two seed in
the NL playoffs.
Colorado, meanwhile, after showing a little life a
couple-three weeks ago, has now lost six of its last seven games.
San Fran now leads the season series with the Rockies nine
games to four, while the totals have leaned toward the OVERS by an 8-4-1
margin.
Wednesday's Hurlers
San Fran goes with Tim Lincecum (8-14, 5.11) for Wednesday's
series finale against lefty Jeff Francis (5-4, 5.38) for Colorado.
Lincecum, by our strict standards, is just 10-for-29 on
quality starts this season, but two for his last two. Most recently, Freak held
the Dodgers to two runs through 6 1/3 innings, although he walked seven guys,
and just before that, he limited the Cubs to two runs through 6 1/3 innings.
On the season, Lincecum has given up 163 hits in 164 innings
and struck out 169, but the 78 walks have hurt.
Also, in four starts this year vs. the Rockies, Lincecum has
been tagged for 14 ER and 26 hits in 22 1/3 innings. The Giants are 1-3 in
those games.
Francis, meanwhile, is just two-for-19 on quality starts
this year, in large part because he can't pitch six full innings. His last time
out Francis threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings vs. the Phillies, although just
before that he got knocked around for five ER and 10 hits in just 3 2/3 innings
vs. the Padres.
Francis has failed to throw at least six innings in 17 of
his 19 starts this year. That means he's been turning games over early to a
Colorado bullpen that ranks 26th in the Majors with a 4.22 ERA.
And in his only start this year vs. San Francisco, Francis
got rocked for six ER and nine hits in less than four innings of an 11-6
Colorado defeat back about five weeks ago.
For the season, the Giants are 11-18 in Lincecum's starts,
with the OVERS/UNDERS going 17-10. Which tells us that, in general, he's been
lousy, although he has been better lately. On the other side of this equation, the Rockies are 12-7 in Francis' starts, which tells us Colorado has been
giving him some pretty good run support. In fact, the Rockies have averaged six
RPG in Francis' starts.
Wednesday's
Giants-Rockies Betting Line
As of Wednesday AM, most baseball betting outlets were
listing San Francisco at right around -130 for Wednesday night's game, with a
total of 9.5 or 10.
The Giants could also be found at around +125 giving the run
and a half on the run line. San Francisco might salivate at the sight of Francis warming
up pre-game; the Giants are tied with the Reds for the best record in the
Majors vs. left-handed starters at 30-15.
Injury Update
Colorado is still playing without both
Troy Tulowitzki (groin) and Michael Cuddyer (oblique) while San Francisco is
without both Melky Cabrera (suspension) and his replacement, Xavier Nady
(hamstring).
Free MLB Pick for
Wednesday
Lincecum has been
better lately compared with his performance from earlier this year, and he's
helped keep San Fran plugging along toward a playoff berth. So we'll take the
Giants at a fairly reasonable price for Wednesday.