Tonight's game will be interesting, Logan Webb vs. Walker Buehler.
Webb last pitched on Saturday. Most effective NL pitcher since May, he's devastating when he pitches at home (1.96 ERA, 6-0 record this year), devastating in the second half (1.038 WHIP, 7-0 record), and devastating with five days of rest (4-0, 2.31 ERA), and finally, he's 1-0 in three starts against the Dodgers with a 2.25 ERA, but more importantly a 0.688 WHIP -- by far the best against any of the 13 teams against which he's had a decision. Webb does considerably better during night games, 2.34 ERA vs. 3.98. He has a 1.96 ERA at Oracle.
Buehler last pitched on Sunday. Hehas given up one run in his last two starts, 3.08 ERA away from home, 7-3 in the second half, 4.83 ERA in Sept/Oct, 3.09 ERA on four days of rest, with 1.123 WHIP. Buehler has a 3-1 record vs. Giants, 2.19 ERA this season, 0.973 WHIP. Buehler is a strong pitcher either day or night, ERA is virtually identical. Buehler has a 3.71 ERA at Oracle.
I don't know who will win tonight, and I won't prognosticate, but if I had to independently select one of the two pitchers above, I'd take Webb. Pitching at home, very motivated, at night, with an extra day's worth of rest.
BTW, this is the first time the Dodgers and Giants have met in the playoffs. 1951 and 1962 were considered part of the regular season.
Position by position comparison:
Catcher: Giants small advantage with Posey.
1B: Muncy and Belt both out. Giants backups slightly better with Ruf, Wade and Flores
2B: Big advantage Dodgers, weakest part of SFG day to day lineup.
SS: Crawford has an advantage this year, with his career year renaissance.
3B: Justin Turner, advantage over Longoria
LF: I'd take Bryant/Wade/Ruf over AJ Pollock and his terrible October stats
CF: I actually prefer Duggar/Slater/Yastrzemski over former MVP, now nosediving Cody Bellinger.
RF: Mookie Betts over Yastrzemski/Wade/Bryant. Slight Dodger advantage.
SP: Slight advantage Dodgers (game 3, really)
RP: Slight advantage Giants
MGR/Coaches: I'll take Kapler and Wotus over Johnson and Bob Geren. And the Giants 17 listed coaches and bullpen catchers versus the Dodgers 12 listed coaches and bullpen catchers.
Webb last pitched on Saturday. Most effective NL pitcher since May, he's devastating when he pitches at home (1.96 ERA, 6-0 record this year), devastating in the second half (1.038 WHIP, 7-0 record), and devastating with five days of rest (4-0, 2.31 ERA), and finally, he's 1-0 in three starts against the Dodgers with a 2.25 ERA, but more importantly a 0.688 WHIP -- by far the best against any of the 13 teams against which he's had a decision. Webb does considerably better during night games, 2.34 ERA vs. 3.98. He has a 1.96 ERA at Oracle.
Buehler last pitched on Sunday. Hehas given up one run in his last two starts, 3.08 ERA away from home, 7-3 in the second half, 4.83 ERA in Sept/Oct, 3.09 ERA on four days of rest, with 1.123 WHIP. Buehler has a 3-1 record vs. Giants, 2.19 ERA this season, 0.973 WHIP. Buehler is a strong pitcher either day or night, ERA is virtually identical. Buehler has a 3.71 ERA at Oracle.
I don't know who will win tonight, and I won't prognosticate, but if I had to independently select one of the two pitchers above, I'd take Webb. Pitching at home, very motivated, at night, with an extra day's worth of rest.
BTW, this is the first time the Dodgers and Giants have met in the playoffs. 1951 and 1962 were considered part of the regular season.
Position by position comparison:
Catcher: Giants small advantage with Posey.
1B: Muncy and Belt both out. Giants backups slightly better with Ruf, Wade and Flores
2B: Big advantage Dodgers, weakest part of SFG day to day lineup.
SS: Crawford has an advantage this year, with his career year renaissance.
3B: Justin Turner, advantage over Longoria
LF: I'd take Bryant/Wade/Ruf over AJ Pollock and his terrible October stats
CF: I actually prefer Duggar/Slater/Yastrzemski over former MVP, now nosediving Cody Bellinger.
RF: Mookie Betts over Yastrzemski/Wade/Bryant. Slight Dodger advantage.
SP: Slight advantage Dodgers (game 3, really)
RP: Slight advantage Giants
MGR/Coaches: I'll take Kapler and Wotus over Johnson and Bob Geren. And the Giants 17 listed coaches and bullpen catchers versus the Dodgers 12 listed coaches and bullpen catchers.
Audaces fortuna iuvat