(Image:MLB.com)
Epic. That pretty much sums up the pitching matchup between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets in the “win or go home” National League Wild Card game on Wednesday night. Both teams have been in “game seven” mode for the past several weeks leading up to tonight’s showdown. It will be interesting to see how much they have left in their tanks after 162. The CitiField faithful are hoping for redemption after watching the Kansas City Royals celebrate on the field last year at the World Series. The Giants are hoping to continue their even numbered Championship year streak going with another title in 2016.
The winner will face the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series that is scheduled to start Friday night at Wrigley Field.
Where: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
When: Wednesday, October 5, 2016 8pm
Network: ESPN
The Matchup
San Francisco Giants
Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74) If there is a pitcher that you would want to step on the mound in a one-game playoff, it would be Bumgarner. In his short career so far, he owns a 7-3 record with an ERA of 2.14 in 14 appearances (12 starts). His dominance in the 2014 postseason won the Giants their third title in five years. He is a big lefty that is going to baffle the Mets hitters and really make them work for it. You can be sure that Bumgarner will do his part, so it will be up to the Giants bats to do theirs.
New York Mets
Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60) With most of the Mets starting rotation in the DL, they turn to their young ace Syndergaard and a do-or-die situation. “Thor” as he is known around baseball doesn’t have the experience like Bumgarner, but he does have positive results. In his first go-round in the postseason last year, Syndergaard had a 2-1 record with a 3.32 ERA in four appearances (three starts). If he has his 100mph fastball cooking he is going to be difficult to solve.
Heavy Hitters
San Francisco Giants
Brandon Belt: .275, 17 HR, 82 RBI (.000, 6 AB, 1 RBI vs Syndergaard)
Buster Posey: .288, 14 HR, 80 RBI (.500, 6 AB vs Syndergaard)
New York Mets
Yoenis Cespedes: .280, 31 HR, 86 RBI (.300, 10 AB, 1 RBI vs Bumgarner)
Asdrubal Cabrera: .280, 23 HR, 62 RBI (.500, 4 AB, 1 RBI vs Bumgarner)
Probable Lineups
San Francisco Giants
Denard Span, CF
Brandon Belt, 1B
Buster Posey, C
Hunter Pence, RF
Brandon Crawford, SS
Angel Pagan, CF
Joe Panik, 2B
Conor Gillaspie, 3B
Madison Bumgarner, P
New York Mets
Jose Reyes, 3B
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Curtis Granderson, CF
T.J. Rivera, 2B
Jay Bruce, RF
Rene Rivera, C
James Loney, 1B
Noah Syndergaard, P
John Ginder
John has recently graduated from the University at Albany with a B.A. in History and is currently finishing his Master's Degree there as well in secondary education. After being away from school for over two decades he decided to go back and work towards his dream of becoming a social studies teacher.
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