Wednesday, October 1st, 2014

PNC Park in Pittsburgh

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On Wednesday night, All-Star Madison Bumgarner will try to lead the San Francisco Giants to the NLDS for the fourth consecutive season when he takes on right-hander Edinson Volquez and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cardinals won 11 of their 19 games against the Pirates this season.

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner had another solid season for the Giants this year by finishing 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA. In 217.1 innings this year, he gave up just 194 hits and he struck out 219 hitters while walking just 1.8 batters per nine innings.

In one start against the Pirates this season, Bumgarner was 0-1 after giving up five earned runs in four innings of work. Pittsburgh All-Star Josh Harrison has four hits in five at-bats against the lefty with a walk and a solo home run.

Right-hander Edinson Volquez had a nice bounce-back season in his first year with the Pirates. In 31 starts, he was 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA. He only gave up 166 hits in 192.2 innings and he struck out 6.5 batters per nine innings while walking 3.3 batters per nine innings.

Volquez had a chance to face the Cardinals five times this season, going 1-1 against them with a 3.16 ERA. Giants outfielder Hunter Pence is just 7-for-36 against the right-hander in his career, but he has hit three home runs off of him.

San Francisco Giants Betting Trends

San Francisco Giants are 76-76-10 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for San Francisco Giants is 0.3

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 74-80-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is 0.3

Injuries to Watch

San Francisco Giants

09/30/14 C Buster Posey Back probable Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
09/20/14 CF Angel Pagan Back out for season
09/20/14 1B Michael Morse Oblique out indefinitely
08/05/14 P Matt Cain Elbow 15-day DL (7/11), out for season
07/26/14 SS Ehire Adrianza Hamstring 60-day DL (7/25)
07/26/14 C Hector Sanchez Concussion 60-day DL (8/10)
07/26/14 2B Marco Scutaro Back 60-day DL (7/25)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/29/14 C Russell Martin Hamstring "?" Wednesday vs. San Francisco Giants
09/24/14 P Charlie Morton Hernia 60-day DL (9/24), out for season
09/10/14 3B Pedro Alvarez Foot out indefinitely
08/16/14 P Stolmy Pimentel Ankle 15-day DL (8/14)

Josh's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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