Analysis: Trying for a fourth straight victory, Matt Cain looks to become the NL?s first 13-game winner when the San Francisco Giants open a three-game road series with the Houston Astros on Monday night. Cain (12-2, 2.12 ERA) threw a three-hitter over nine innings in a 1-0, 10-inning win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday to finish 3-0 with an 0.94 ERA in six starts during July. Cain is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA against the Astros (52-53), who are coming off a 2-5 road trip, but have won the last four meetings between the teams in Houston. Mike Hampton has had a less than stellar season with the Astros; Hampton (6-8, 5.36) allowed a season-high nine runs and eight hits in four innings of a 12-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. Hampton gave up six runs in the first inning of his last outing. In the first innings of his 18 starts this year, he has an ERA of 12.00, compared to 4.04 from the second inning on. Good value on the visiting side; look for SAN FRANCISCO to improve to 18-11 (+7.3 units) against left-handed starters!
Nick Parsons 8/3
Reply With Quote