Larry ness 6/4 - GM1 (fp)
San Francisco Giants @ Washington Nationals
PICK: San Francisco Giants
The Giants are a much better team than the Nationals, entering this game 25-25 compared to Washington's 14-36 mark. However, the Nats were able to hang in vs reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum on Tuesday night, as Lincecum allowed eight hits and four runs (two earned) over 6.1 innings, before exploding for six-run eighth inning vs the San Fran bullpen. Comparing the Giants' road mark (7-16 while averaging 3.26 RPG) with the Nats' home mark (8-16 while allowing 5.68 RPG) and the teams are much closer in ability in this setting. However, I should note that the Giants were 7-0 (including 4-0 at Nationals Park) vs the Nats during the 2008 season. The Nationals own MLB's worst ERA (5.69 ERA) and it led to the firing of pitching coach Randy St Claire on Tuesday. The Nationals promoted Steve McCatty from Triple-A to replace him and tonight McCatty will get a first-hand look at the team's top pitching prospect, rookie Jordan Zimmermann. Zimmermann opened 2-0 with 3-2 and 8-1 wns (2.38 ERA and a 8-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio) but has allowed five ERs or more in FIVE of his last six starts. He's 0-2 with a 7.27 ERA during that span, with the Nationals going 1-5. Zimmermann's mound opponent tonight, is Randy Johnson. You may have heard of him? The Big Unit looks to become the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins in tonight's game. He's accomplished a few things in his career, including five Cy Young awards while winning a World Series ring and being named co-MVP. The 10-time All-Star has thrown two no-hitters (including MLB's last perfect game in 2004) and ranks second on the career strikeout list with 4,843. Johnson is 45-years old and some of his outings in 2009 have been downright 'ugly' and he's 4-4 with a 5.71 ERA overall, in 10 starts (team is 5-5). He has however, looked very good in his last two outings, going 5.1 innings (six hits and one ER with a 7-3 ratio) at Seattle and then getting win No. 299 at home vs Atlanta in his last outing. He went six innings vs the Braves last Wednesday, allowing three hits and one ER (5-0 ratio) in a 6-3 win. That's 1.59 ERA in his last two starts, with 12 Ks and just two walks. Johnson got his first win in his major league debut (Sept 15, 1988) while pitching for the then-Montreal Expos. Now, more than two decades later, he's poised to join MLB's "300-Club" by beating that very same franchise, now the Washington Nationals. Doesn't this just feel like the perfect setting? All that stands in Johnson's way is MLB's worst team (the 14-36 Nationals) and a rookie pitcher who has posted a 7.27 ERA in his last six outings. Better yet, Johnson's the slight underdog. Take the Giants, as Johnson gets win No. 300 a day later than scheduled, after last night's rainout
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