San Francisco @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2011 ) Arizona 4, San Francisco 1
THE STORY: The National League West can be decided Friday when the Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series. San Francisco needs to sweep in order to remain alive for the division title as it is six games behind Arizona with six remaining. The Diamondbacks, whose magic number was reduced to one when the Giants lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, are on the verge of their fifth division crown and first since 2007. San Francisco is still is alive for the wild card as it trails Atlanta by four games.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (12-10, 2.86 ERA) or LH Eric Surkamp (2-0, 2.95 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (12-12, 3.66 ERA).
Giants manager Bruce Bochy stated before Thursday's loss that he likely will start Cain on Friday. The 26-year-old, who notched the win at Colorado on Sunday despite allowing five runs in five innings, has not yielded more than three earned runs in any of his last nine outings. Cain is 10-5 in 22 career starts against Arizona, including a victory on Sept. 2 in which he surrendered two runs in eight frames. San Francisco's minute division title hopes also could rest on the arm of Surkamp, who will be making just his fifth career start. The 24-year-old rookie allowed one run and three hits at Colorado on Saturday but lasted only 4 2/3 innings thanks to six walks. Surkamp did not yield more than three runs in any of his previous four outings.
Saunders, who was moved up a day in the rotation, posted his third straight win Sunday at San Diego as he allowed an unearned run while coming within one out of his second complete game of the season. The 30-year-old has yielded three earned runs or less in each of his last five outings, going 4-1 in the process. Saunders has lost all three of his career starts against San Francisco, most recently when he surrendered four runs over 5 1/3 innings on Sept. 2 at AT&T Park.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (84-72): San Francisco would serve as host of a tiebreaking game in two of three possible scenarios. The Giants would play at AT&T Park on Sept. 29 should they finish the regular season either tied with Arizona for the division lead or with St. Louis for the wild card. If it winds up even with Atlanta for the wild card, San Francisco will take on the Braves at Turner Field. Pablo Sandoval collected half of the Giants' six hits Thursday. He has posted three hits or more in five of his last 10 contests. Carlos Beltran extended his hitting streak to 10 games Thursday with a solo homer in the first inning.
ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (90-66): Minor league field coordinator Chad Kreuter was fired Wednesday, with Jeff Pico promoted to the position. Mel Stottlemyre Jr. also is on board as he was hired as minor league pitching coordinator. Arizona put single-game tickets for the NL Division Series on sale Friday morning, with the top seat going for $140 and the least expensive being $12. Game One would be played at Chase Field on Oct. 1 should the Diamondbacks overtake Milwaukee for second place in the National League. Arizona is one game behind the Brewers.
FINAL PITCH: San Francisco entered Thursday having served up 95 home runs, the fewest in the majors. The Dodgers belted a couple of shots Thursday, but the Giants still have yielded seven fewer blasts than Philadelphia.