San Francisco @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2013 ) Arizona 3, San Francisco 1
Paul Goldschmidt looks to continue his success against Tim Lincecum on Friday, when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series. The slugger has nine hits - including five homers - in 17 career at-bats versus the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner. The Diamondbacks certainly would welcome another power display by Goldschmidt as they sit six games behind Cincinnati for the second wild card in the National League and 9 1/2 in back of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
Goldschmidt was a spectator on Wednesday as Arizona failed to complete a three-game sweep of San Diego with a 5-1 setback. Although San Francisco resides in the basement, it has won 30 of 53 games versus its division rivals - including eight of 12 against the Diamondbacks. The Giants, however, dropped two of three to Colorado this week and have lost seven of their last 11 overall.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, KNTV (San Francisco), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (7-13, 4.55 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Randall Delgado (4-4, 3.87)
Lincecum snapped a two-game skid by yielding three runs on as many hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-3 triumph over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The veteran struggled in his last outing versus Arizona, permitting five runs and 10 hits in five frames of a no-decision on May 1. A free agent after the season, Lincecum's looking to bolster his worth with a strong performance on Friday.
Delgado saw his winless stretch extend to four games despite carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning against Philadelphia on Saturday. The 23-year-old Panamanian settled for a no-decision after being touched for three runs on as many hits in six frames against the Phillies and has yielded only eight in his last five outings. Delgado owns a 1-0 mark with a 0.77 ERA in two starts versus the Giants.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt is 9-for-22 with two doubles during his six-game hitting streak.
2. Arizona 3B Martin Prado has hit safely in five straight and 14 of 15 contests.
3. Delgado scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings of a 3-1 triumph over San Francisco on July 21.
PREDICTION: Giants 4, Diamondbacks 2