Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview
AT&T Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 5, 2014 ) San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 1
Ryan Vogelsong has a tough act to follow, especially with a much more potent lineup coming to town. The San Francisco Giants right-hander looks to build off teammate Tim Lincecum's no-hitter when the club hosts the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday to open a four-game series. The Reds have claimed the season series each of the past three years, including taking six of seven in 2013 - but the Giants won two of three in Cincinnati earlier this month.
Vogelsong beat the Reds on June 4 in Cincinnati, allowing just two runs over 6 1/3 innings and racking up a season-high nine strikeouts, but the Reds have averaged 6.2 runs while winning 10 of their last 14. The Giants are still atop the National League West despite losing 11 of their last 15 and needing Lincecum's gem to avoid a sweep at the hands of lowly San Diego Padres. Six Giants hitters have combined for 11 home runs off Reds starter Mike Leake with Tyler Colvin (7-for-19, 4 HRs) and Pablo Sandoval (11-for-17, 2 HRs) enjoying particular success.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (5-6, 3.59 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (5-3, 4.13)
Leake has won two straight starts with the Reds putting up a whopping 24 runs in those games. The 26-year-old didn't need much support last time out, as he held Toronto to one run and four hits over eight innings in an 11-1 victory. Leake is 4-1 with a 4.38 ERA in seven games (six starts) versus San Francisco, but the loss came earlier this month when he was tagged for five runs in five innings.
Vogelsong is without a quality start in his last three outings, but he did enough to earn the win his last time out - holding Arizona to four runs over five innings. The 36-year-old has posted a solid 3.33 ERA in eight home starts this season and has a 3.47 ERA all-time at AT&T Park. Vogelsong is 3-3 with a 4.84 ERA in 16 games (nine starts) against the Reds, including the win earlier this month.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips (bruised right heel) missed all three games against the Cubs but might talk his way back into the lineup Thursday — he's 8-for-16 against Vogelsong.
2. The Giants are 27-13 against opponents who are above .500 and 19-19 versus teams below the break-even mark.
3. Reds C Devin Mesoraco had his streak of five straight games with a homer ended Wednesday, but has hit safely in eight consecutive contests.
PREDICTION: Giants 5, Reds 4