The magic carpet ride is over for the Dodgers although I do think they are serious contenders in the NL West. At 9-1 they have been the best team but now they go on the road for a change. Dodgers just are not hte same team way and neither is their starter Chad Billingsley who has a 0.63 ERA in two starts. I remind you those two starts came against the Pirates and at San Diego. Now he heads to Miller Field where he posts a 4.50 ERA in his last 2 starts. He had a 5.34 ERA away from home last year combined. Brewers were #6 in OPS vs. RHP last year while the Dodgers were 22nd. Brewers were also 5th in the league with an .805 OPS at home and Galardo had a 3.00 ERA at home and a 2.81 ERA during night starts last year. Brewers are 50-17 in their last 67 as a home favorite and 41-20 in their last 61 vs. RH starter.
Bumgarner had two challenging road starts at Colorado and Arizona and he survived. He posted a 3.12 ERA at home last year and has some pretty good numbers against the PHillies as he posted 2 ER 9K in 8 IP allowing just 6 hits in a home start last year. The Phillies just can't score and despite their 4 first inning runs last night against Lincecum who hasn't been Lincecum their offense was ice cold. Same was true at home against the Mets and now the Phillies are ranked 28th with a .591 OPS vs. LHP. Which isn't surprising since they were 21st with a .701 OPS vs. LHP last year.
On the flip side Joe Blanton starts for the Phillies after a great start but I think he has a let down here after trying to prove himself in the first start. Pagan and Posey are 7-15 vs. Blanton and Posey was 3-4 last night. Look for this offense to continue to click which is ranked 11th in OPS vs. RHP this season. Giants offense is not as bad as it was last year and they are better vs. RHP. Giants bullpen is their main concern but I"m not worried about them at home where they post a 1.17 ERA this season. Giants are now 7-2 in their last 9 vs. RH starter at home and that will move to 8-2 after tonight.
