SAN FRANCISCO — Duane Kuiper said yesterday that the Giants would probably have to go 3-1 in their last four games to make the playoffs. He also said they probably wouldn’t sweep the Dodgers.
That made last night a must win, something San Francisco accomplished in a solid 7-2 victory over Colorado. Now they must perform a much tougher task, taking at least two out of three from a Los Angeles Dodgers team that, while with far less to play for, will be anything but a tough out.
The Giants currently sit in second place in the Wild Card standings, a game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. If the Giants take 2-of-3 from the Dodgers, they guarantee themselves a one game playoff in St. Louis to determine who faces the Mets in the official Wild Card game, even if the Cardinals sweep the Pirates.
That wouldn’t be ideal, but it’s better than packing things up on Sunday.
The Giants could also take the top spot from the Mets, who are currently a game ahead of San Francisco, but that seems less likely as New York’s last series is against a Phillies team that has been outscored by a league-leading 183 runs.
It may all be a bit confusing, but the Giants’ goal is not. They have to win the series against LA to guarantee life after Sunday, making tonight, for all intents and purposes, the actual start of their postseason.
“It’s playoff baseball before it starts,” Bruce Bochy said last night.
The Giants made it clear after last night’s game that would be their mindset from here on out. Bochy said he’d be willing to use any of his starters in relief during the series with Los Angeles at any time.
“You’re in a situation where you’ve got to win right now,” Bochy said. “We’ll worry about the next day, that day. You’ve got to get there first.”
Johnny Cueto, fresh off an 11-strikeout performance after pushing his start back four days because of a strained groin, said he’d be more than willing to pitch on two days rest Sunday if the team needed him.
“I’m ready,” he said in Spanish through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “The last game is Sunday. If they give me the ball, I’ll take the ball and go out to the mound.”
Jeff Samardzija will also be available.
Both have been sensational for the Giants as of late, as have Madison Bumgarner and Matt Moore. There was never any question about the amount of talent in the San Francisco rotation, but the fact that they’re peaking at the right time would be a huge advantage if the Giants can get to the actual postseason.
There isn’t any questioning the amount of talent on the Dodgers’ pitching staff either, and that will be on full display starting tonight with Rich Hill and his 1.53 ERA since the All-Star break taking the mound in what will be an electric atmosphere at AT&T Park. It won’t get any easier tomorrow when another dominant lefty, Clayton Kershaw (1.65 ERA), faces off against either Alberto Suarez or Ty Blach. That will be the only game where the Dodgers have a clear pitching advantage in the series, putting added pressure on Bumgarner to come with his absolute best stuff tonight.
If you’re looking to put a positive spin on things, take solace in the fact that Bumgarner historically brings his best stuff in the biggest moments (2.14 postseason ERA). And with their spot in the postseason already clinched, it would be a surprise if Dodgers manager Dave Roberts let Hill, Kershaw or Sunday’s starter Kenta Maeda go more than six innings.
It’s not like the Dodgers don’t have anything to play for. While their spot in a first round series against the Washington Nationals is set in stone, they can still snatch home field in that series with an impressive showing this weekend and a Nats’ collapse in their final series against Miami.
This is also the Giants we’re talking about and if you think Los Angeles is willing to just roll over, think again. Without going all out, the Dodgers would love nothing more than to spoil San Francisco’s season just days before it ends. Conversely, getting the best of Los Angeles would be the ideal spring board for another October run for San Francisco.
“It’s exciting,” Bochy said. “We wish we were in a better position, but you don’t stop fighting.”
The Giants have made it to the postseason, it starts tonight.