The Giants played the Chicago Cubs tough in their last trip to Wrigley Field in late May, with all three games decided by a single run, and the Giants losing two out of three.
There’s no shame in a performance like that against the league’s best team in their park, but Giants general manager Bobby Evans told Tolbert and Lund on Thursday that his team is in a much better spot heading into Game 1 of the NLDS.
“We’ll put together lineups against these guys that are probably a little more friendly for us than maybe we did against them in the past,” Evans said. “(Jon) Lester was very tough when we were here last time. Our guys are playing better and in a much better rhythm.”
The Giants face Lester again tonight, who pitched a one-run shutout in the Cubs 2-1 victory on September 2, but this time San Francisco has a stud of their own opposing him, with Johnny Cueto taking the bump for the Orange and Black.
Still Evans says it will be the Giants ability to get hits with runners on base that will be the difference in the series.
“When we were here last time we played so many one run games,” Evans said. “But we’ve got to find a way to get the timely hit that gives you the opportunity to win the game.