Friday 5/26 Jeff Francis, LHP (3-3, 3.07) VS.Jason Schmidt, RHP (3-2, 3.07)
Scouting Report:
The stakes were high on Saturday when Francis faced his favorite team from his childhood in British Columbia, and he was more than up to the task. Francis was perfect through four innings, and didn't allow a hit until the leadoff batter in the sixth inning. Including that at-bat, Francis allowed six of the last seven hitters he faced to reach base, but was touched for only one run thanks to two putouts at home plate.
Although Schmidt didn't get a decision in his last start -- a 4-2 victory over Oakland -- the veteran allowed only one run over eight innings before giving up another tally in the ninth. It was his fourth consecutive great start after losing his first two verdicts. Schmidt isn't striking out hitters in wholesale quantities, but his accuracy and command are back to 2004 standards.
Saturday 5/27(I'm going to this game ) Josh Fogg, RHP (3-2, 4.35)VS.Matt Cain, RHP (2-5, 5.47)
Scouting Report:
Fogg pitched well in his last outing and appeared to cement himself in the No. 5 spot in the rotation for now. Against the Blue Jays, he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out five while earning the win. In his four games at SBC Park against the Giants, he is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
The 21-year-old Cain fashioned his best performance last Sunday, blanking the A's, 6-0, on a one-hitter. This followed a horrendous stretch in which his command and location went AWOL and he seemed too amped on the mound. Cain skipped a start, then pitched two innings of relief as a tuneup. Relaxing and focusing more on the task at hand -- and throwing down in the zone -- maybe have turned around the kid's season.
Sunday 5/28 Byung-Hyun Kim, RHP (2-2, 4.02)VS. Jamey Wright, RHP (5-3, 3.84)
Scouting Report:
Kim only allowed three runs (one earned) in his last start but took the loss because of a lack of run support. The right-hander pitched well against the Giants last season, posting a 2.59 ERA in seven appearances, including three starts. He was even better at AT&T Park in 2005, with a 1.69 ERA in his two starts there, holding opponents to a .185 batting average.
Wright picked up his third straight victory with a strong eight-inning, six-hit, 9-2 victory over St. Louis last week at AT&T Park, getting the Cardinals out on 15 ground balls. His sinker has become one of the best in the game, according to catcher Mike Matheny.