San Francisco @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2012 ) Philadelphia 0, San Francisco 1
Tim Lincecum's first half of the season left a lot to be desired. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner will look for a better start to his second half on Friday when the San Francisco Giants open a three-game set versus the host Philadelphia Phillies. NL West-leading San Francisco saw its five-game winning streak come to an end with a 3-2 loss to Atlanta on Thursday.
Philadelphia nearly had a five-game winning streak of its own, but failed to hold a two-run lead en route to a 5-3 loss in 12 innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. The last-place Phillies enter their six-game homestand with their identity in question. Three-game sets versus San Francisco and Arizona may go a long way in providing an answer as to whether they'll be selling the farm as the trade deadline looms.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), WB17 (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (3-10, 5.93 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vance Worley (5-5, 3.47)
Lincecum scattered five hits and struck out 11 in eight scoreless innings in his last outing, only to watch the bullpen squander his brilliant performance against Houston on Saturday. Lincecum is 4-2 in his career versus Philadelphia, but took the loss after yielding five runs on eight hits in a 5-2 setback on April 16.
Worley evened his record after yielding two runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings in an 8-5 win over Colorado on Saturday. The 24-year-old Sacramento native has handcuffed San Francisco on two occasions in his career, winning both outings while limiting the Giants to a .179 batting average while registering a 0.75 WHIP.
WALK-OFFS
1. Hunter Pence has collected two-run singles in his last two contests, but has just four hits over his last seven games for the Phillies. The slugger hasn't fared much better versus Lincecum, going 5-for-29 with eight strikeouts.
2. San Francisco's Melky Cabrera has four straight multi-hit games and seven in his last 10 outings. He has yet to face Worley in his career.
3. Philadelphia will play 25 of its next 38 games at Citizens Bank Park. While that sounds like an advantage, the Phillies are a paltry 17-27 at home this season.