Bay Area Sports Guy – SF Giants World Series pitching probables

It looks like Tim Lincecum will go back to his role as a super-sub, as Bruce Bochy announced his World Series pitching rotation this evening at AT&T Park.

Okay, that doesn’t tell the whole story…

So the pitching matchups should look like this:

Game 1 (Oct. 24): Justin Verlander vs. Barry Zito
Game 2 (Oct. 25): Doug Fister vs. Madison Bumgarner
Game 3 (Oct. 27): Anibal Sanchez vs. Ryan Vogelsong
Game 4 (Oct. 28): Max Scherzer vs. Matt Cain
Game 5 (Oct. 29)*: Verlander vs. Zito
Game 6 (Oct. 31)*: Fister vs. Bumgarner
Game 7 (Nov. 1)*: Sanchez vs. Vogelsong

* If necessary

There was some doubt whether we’d see Bumgarner pitch again in 2012, as he hasn’t looked sharp in over two months and his velocity has dipped noticeably as of late. According to Bumgarner, things have changed since his disastrous start in Game 1 of the NLCS, when he allowed six earned runs, eight hits and two home runs over 3.2 innings.

If Bumgarner can’t get rolling again, Lincecum will be right behind him. Bochy also has the option of using the two-time Cy Young winner in any of the games in Detroit, where the cold weather should be to Lincecum’s liking.

Also interesting is Matt Cain only getting one potential World Series start. Bochy could have moved Cain up to start in Game 3 on normal rest, but it’s hard to fault the decision to go with Vogelsong, who has been the Giants’ best starting pitcher throughout the postseason.

Will this rotation setup lead Bochy to leave off a reliever and add a position player, or will he go with the same 25 guys he used in the NLDS and NLCS? Stay tuned…

5 comments

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devnull

If this series holds to form with the others, it may come down more to the bullpens than the starters. The radio talking heads, and even some of the back east biased lot, give the nod to the Giants for a stronger and more flexible bullpen. Meaning, it wouldn't be that shocking to see the Giants come from behind in the series again, as their bullpen picks up while the Tigers bullpen is dropping off. Gotta keep hitting & running though, or none of that means anything.

NoGood

The Tigers were barley above .500 this season against lefties, I like it. Affeldt, Lopez, and Mijares will be key in this series.

That is another reason why you want Zito and Bumgarner making two starts each if the series goes the full seven games....or even 6 games

paperback writer

The calendar and rotation variables present a tough puzzle to solve, so, not ideal - I would agree with Botchy's picks. Keeping Lincecum as a sort of Queen Piece on this chess-board can close some of the imperfections. Examples: 1.Most likely to need relief are Bum and Zeets in games 1+2. If longer stint needed, Timmy is rested, comfortable in our big park and..... 2.Timmy, will then be ready to either start game 6 for Bum (if he flames out in game 2) or .......... 3.Tag team with Vogelson who is moved up to game 6 in an elimination game.......and/or.... 4.Take the second leg from Cain in a clinching 7th Game winner.