The Giants are hot right now but they are also on the road against a hot hitting club in Arizona. They send their starter that has the most trouble up there on Saturday. Barry Zito has been battling with his timing and delivery so far in 2010 and I think he'll struggle vs. the Diamondbacks a team that has killed lefties dating back to last year where they were #8 in the league with a .745 OPS. Thus far this year they are hitting .290 with 7.25 runs per 9 and a .884 ops vs. lefties. Zito is very well known among the Diamondbacks as they have 192 collective at bats among their active hitters for today. Steven Drew is 11-32 with 8 RBI's and Zito struggled last year going just 9.2 IP in two starts giving up 10 hits 8 walks and 9 ER. The start he struggled ironically was with Jerry Meals behind the plate on August 28th vs. the Dbacks. Zito went just 3.2 IP gave up 6 hits 5 walks and 7 ER. That may just be a coincindence but interesting to note. Zito in his career is 3-8 in 14 starts vs. the Diamondbacks with a 5.15 ERA. In the last 5 games the Dbacks are scoring 6.7 runs per 9 innings something the Giants are not accustomed to seeing out of the NL West so I think we see good value in this line especially with Joe Saunders making a home start. Saunders won't be a sexy name by any means when betting, but he keeps his teams in the game. His switch the National League was a good one a year ago and in his 7 home starts with the Dbacks he posted a 3.12 ERA. I think he can get used to that again this year. Giants have struggled this year vs. LHP as they have a .234 average 3.28 runs per 9 and .625 ops. That's over 250 points lower than what the Dbacks are doing vs. lefties and you can certainly argue that Zito vs. Saunders is an even pitching match up. Dbacks are at home and the Giants are 1-10 in Zitos last 11 starts. I like the Dbacks here to hit Zito hard and hold on for a win.
These plays have been super hot as of late going 5-1 with another win last night. We'll go with the Cards because how could you not their bats are red hot and Pujols who would normally be the guy leading the club has just joined the party with 2 HR last night to go along with Berkman's 2 HR. Berkman is healthy and a lot of people said he was going to have a good year and so far so good. This Cardinals team has 82 hits in their last 5 games including 14 in each. Now they'll face Clayton Kershaw and that's why they are under dogs. Kershaw has been a force and only seems to improve with each start, but he runs into a hot team here today and a hot team that has had success against him in the past. Pujols is 6-12 with 5 walks HOlliday 5-14 with 6 walks they have a .400 on base percentage in 60 collective at bats for active Cardinals hitters. Kershaw for some reason was better on the road and better during the day last year he posted a slightly above average 3.33 ERA at home. IN 2010 he posted a 5.56 ERA vs. the Cardinals in two starts where he did not go deep into either game which could be a problem because the Dodgers bullpen has not been that good and neither has their offense. Mclleland has a 2.25 ERA and a 1.69 in 10 appearances vs. the Dodgers as a reliever. He's still much of an unknown for this team and the Dodgers will continue to struggle with their bats. Cards have a tendency to take relievers and have them carry a strong season as a starter I think Mcllelan is next in line as he faces a struggling Dodgers team that is hitting just .238 vs. RHP with 2.64 runs per 9. Cards have won 39 of 57 in this match up.
