Both teams come into tonight's game having identical records of 88-74. The reason the game is being played in Pittsburgh is because the Pirates won four of the six meetings between the teams this season. Playing the game in Pittsburgh is going to be a huge factor in this game for a couple of reasons. First is the fact that PNC Park is going to be very very loud and going to rock, just like it did last year. That played a factor last year when the Pirates beat the Reds in the playoffs. Plus think about this. Pittsburgh is 51-30 at home this year during the regular season, while they went 37-44 on the road. San Francisco was over .500 in both situations, going 45-36 at home and 43-38 on the road. The disparity between the Pirates home and road record is a little startling, which is why it benefits the Pirates more to play at home. Besides home field, there's more to it than that for tonight's game.
Starting Pitching:
Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98) gets the ball for the Giants, while Edinson Volquez (13-7, 3.04) gets the start for the Pirates. No surprise Bumgarner got the ball for the Giants in this game, as he has been the best starting pitcher for the Giants this season. In fact, Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum, who's now coming out of the pen, are the only Giants pitchers with winning records and more than 10 wins this year. Bumgarner faced the Pirates once this year, back on July 28th, getting hammered out in San Francisco. Bumgarner does have good numbers in the playoffs, having a record of 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA in 35 2/3 career postseason innings spread across six starts and one relief appearance. All of those numbers came during the Giants' 2010 and 2012 World Series runs. The problem here is, Bumgarner has gotten hit pretty good by the Pirates. Sure Andrew McCutchen has not had much luck against Bumgarner (2-for-10) but Russell Martin (3-for-7), Jordy Mercer (3-for-7), Gaby Sanchez (3-for-9) and Neil Walker (3-for-9) have all had some success in limited samples. Leadoff man and third baseman Josh Harrison has owned Bumgarner in their relatively short careers, going 4-for-5 with a home run and walk.
Meanwhile, Volquez has been good for the Pirates, being one of three starters with double digit wins and winning records for Pittsburgh. Volquez knows the Giants hitters, having faced them while a member of the Dodgers. Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt and Buster Posey have had success against Volquez over the years. On the other hand, Brandon Crawford (.150/.150/.150) has been helpless. Gregor Blanco has been okay (.263/.364/.263).
Advantage: Pirates
Offense:
Pittsburgh had better numbers during the season than the Giants. The Pirates were able to out score, out slug and out hit the Giants over the course of the season. San Francisco struggled down the final stretch, while the Pirates started to heat up. San Francisco utalized the long ball a little more than the Pirates, but Pittsburgh's offense is a little healthier and is getting hotter right now than that of the Giants.
Advantage: Pirates
Final Analysis:
The game being played in Pittsburgh is going to be huge, considering how good the Pirates have been at home. Not to say that the Giants aren't a good road team, because they are. But I think how loud the crowd was last year against the Reds, its going to play a factor again tonight. Ever since the all-star break, the Pirates have gotten hot and the Giants have been around average. San Francisco is a good ball club and they can probably go punch for punch offensively with the Pirates, but Pittsburgh pitching staff has been better as of late than that of the Giants.
Winner: Pittsburgh Pirates
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