The starting pitchers didn't have it in Game 1 of the NLCS, that went to the St. Louis Cardinals. Now the San Francisco Giants look to even the series before it shifts to St. Louis , and we have a Game 2 preview and MLB pick for the contest.
It was almost like getting a doubleheader in Game 1 of the NLCS between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants. The tale of two games began with the bats blazing to chase the two starting pitchers, Lance Lynn and Madison Bumgarner, before either could finish the fourth inning. After that, it was all pitching and defense with nary a run crossing the plate from the fifth inning on.
Having the series opener play like two games is appropriate as we head into Game 2. No two contests are alike, so we shouldn't expect Game 2 to be anything like Game 1. No more than we expect the next snowflake to look exactly like the previous one. We can sift through all sorts of statistical and historical data, study pitch sequences, take into account stadium trends and meteorological forecasts to come up with how things might go. But once that umpire bellows, "Play ball," flawed human beings take over.
So where might the most flaws be tonight?
Can Cards' Carpenter Continue His Postseason Magic?
Tonight's starting pitchers, Chris Carpenter for the Cardinals and San Fran's Ryan Vogelsong, share a few similarities. Each slings from the right side, they're close in age with Carpenter 37 and Vogelsong 35, and both started a recent NLDS game their team won to help get to the NLCS.
That's about where the connections end. There is one big difference between the two hurlers in the postseason experience column where Carpenter has a solid track record.
This will be Carpenter's 17th playoff start compared to Vogelsong's second. In his previous 16 October appearances, St. Louis has won 12 times while Carpenter pitched to a 2.88 ERA. He has also enjoyed success vs. the Giants over the years, the Cardinals 6-2 in his eight assignments, including a win in his lone career start at AT&T Park
Vogelsong will have to be just as unflappable in his second playoff assignment was he was in the first. He held the Reds to a run in five innings of Game 3 of the NLDS when San Fran faced elimination, earning a no-decision in the Giants' eventual 10-inning triumph. That performance marked his fourth straight strong effort after a bad run from mid-August to mid-September when he surrendered 34 runs during a 7-start stretch (10.31 ERA) with the Giants going 2-5.
Carlos Beltran, The Bullpens And Chris Guccione
A key for the St. Louis offense this postseason has been the middle infield tandem of Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma. Together, they're batting a modest .260 (13-for-50), but they've come up big in terms of production with 3 HR, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored between them.
Still, it's Carlos Beltran who is driving the lineup, and he's the batter Vogelsong and the rest of the Giants staff will have to focus on tonight and the rest of the way. Beltran was slumping badly when he faced Vogelsong back in August, but has since found his second wind to continue his excellent career production in the postseason.
At 38, Chris Guccione is a mere lad on the umpire scene, and Monday will be just his second postseason game to call balls and strikes. The first came last year on NLDS Game 1 between the Cardinals and Phillies, an 11-6 Philadelphia win that sailed well past the total. Guccione's 2012 season total was also dominated by OVER outcomes (17-11-1 O/U/P).
The bullpens proved huge Sunday night, and we know they'll once again be a big part of Game 2. It wouldn't surprise me to see both Carpenter and Vogelsong settle into a low-scoring game, but it would surprise me to see either go past the fifth or sixth inning. Two unsung heroes for the Cardinals have been Joe Kelly and Trevor Rosenthal who have combined for nine innings while allowing just two hits, no runs and striking out 10.
My pick: Cardinals +100 ---
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