Phillies Face Tough Task Against Giants’ Bumgarner
On Saturday night the National League East Philadelphia Phillies visit the NL West San Francisco Giants in the second game of a three-game weekend series. The current line has San Francisco heavily favored at -290, while Philadelphia is on +260 and the over/under run total is sitting on 6.5.
Entering this game, Philadelphia has a record of 31-44 overall and 15-22 on the road. The Phillies are 1-9 over their past 10 games played. San Francisco entering this game is 48-27 overall and 23-13 at home. The Giants are 9-1 in their past 10 games played.
Madison Bumgarner the pitching ace for San Francisco went two months between losses. He looks to come back from his most recent loss in the second game of this three-game series. Bumgarner gave up just one run on five hits in eight innings, but lost 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
The loss snapped a winning streak of 7 games for the Giants ace. The Giants have won 12 of their past 13 including Friday’s series opener 5-4. With their strong play, the Giants have opened a lead in the NL West to 7 games over the second place Los Angeles Dodgers.
Philadelphia had four doubles and two triples in Friday’s opener but could not plate enough runs. The loss was the Phillies 14th in their past 16 games. Freddy Galvis has 6 hits in his past 14 at bats, after going through of slump of 6 hits in 70 at bats.
San Francisco’s Bumgarner on the season is 8-3 with an ERA of 1.85. Philadelphia will send Jeremy Hellickson to the mound on Saturday. The Phillies right-hander is 4-6 with an ERA of 4.41.
Hellickson has lost his past three straight starts while going 0-4 during his past six outings. The Phillies right-hander has given up 16 homes runs over 87 2/3 innings.
San Francisco has won 31 of its past 40 games, which matched the New York Giants of 1954 for the best winning stretch of 40 games in the history of the franchise.
The Phillies have placed Andrew Bailey on the disabled list and recalled Edubray Ramos from Lehigh Valley their Triple-A affiliate.
San Francisco left fielder Angel Pagan had 3 hits in 4 at bats on Friday with two RBIs. Pagan has 7 RBIs over his past three games.
Prediction: Bumgarner is pitching exceptionally well and should quiet the Phillies bats. Lean here toward the home team.
