Dusty Baker and the Cincinnati Reds go for the kill Tuesday when they host the San Francisco Giants for Game 3 of the NLDS. Up 2-0 in the best-of-five playoff set, The Reds are favored to pull off the sweep, and SBR previews the contest while providing a pick on the outcome.
Road teams have had no trouble so far in the National League playoffs. Heading into Monday afternoon's NLDS Game 2 between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals, NL home teams had gone down in defeat all four games and been outscored 23-7 in the process.
Bruce Bochy and the San Francisco Giants are hoping that trend continues the rest of the week as they head to Cincinnati down 2-0 to the Reds. The potential series-ender finds Homer Bailey on the bump for Dusty Baker and the Reds who started off at -140 on the MLB odds board. Ryan Vogelsong is Bochy's the choice for the Giants, and the contest opened with an 8 run total that was priced to the UNDER.
Baker's boys have been nothing but fabulous so far, combining excellent pitching with more than enough offense in taking the first two games at AT&T Park
It's certainly not the preferred situation for San Francisco who now needs a 3-game sweep atGreat American Ball Park
Vogelsong vs. Bailey Not In Original Game 3 Plans
This isn't the mound duel we thought we'd see in Game 3 when this NLDS became part of the playoff landscape last week. Though Bochy didn't commit to any arm for the game initially, 2-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum was penciled in along with Barry Zito.
But Lincecum's poor showing in the regular season made up Bochy's mind over the weekend when he announced Vogelsong with start the third game while Lincecum would be available from the pen for the first two games. The Freak tossed two relief innings Sunday, and Bochy has suggested Lincecum could get the call on Wednesday if the Giants can force a Game 4.
Vogelsong had a profitable season in 2011 with San Fran winning 19 of his 31 starts for a 7.1-unit return. Two of those 19 dubyas came against the Reds, and Vogelsong closed the campaign with a three solid starts (17 IP, 1 ER) to help the Giants to a couple of wins down the stretch.
Meanwhile in Cincinnati , Baker planned to use Mat Latos for Game 3 before Johnny Cueto's early exit in Game 1 altered that arrangement. With Latos called on for four innings Saturday, he likely won't pitch again in this series unless the Giants force a decided fifth game.
Bailey thus gets the call and the young right looks to continue his fine form that was on display over the final five weeks of the season. He authored a no-hitter at Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, and finished the year with a 1.84 ERA during his final seven assignments.
Vogelsong and Bailey met on this mound in late-April, an eventual 6-5 decision for the Giants while neither starter figured into the decision. Bailey was in line for the win before the Reds bullpen coughed up the lead.
Veteran Davis Behind The Plate In Sunny Cincinnati
With 31 major league seasons under his belt, Gerry Davis is scheduled to make his 18th postseason appearance behind the plate on Tuesday. His 2012 totals mark was 15-16-1 O/U/P, and that includes a couple of UNDERS in his two assignments at Great American Ball Park
Game 3 is set to begin under clear skies with temps in the upper-50s. A few clouds could roll in as the game progresses, and current forecasts call for an 8-10 mph wind from the south (in from RF).
There's really very little to take from the first couple of games that make you want to rush out and play the Giants in Game 3. Still, I'm going to stick with the road dog one more time and add San Fran to my MLB picks, expecting them to avoid the series sweep.
My pick: Giants +130 +++
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