The National League wildcard race could get a lot more interesting if the Giants can dominate the Rockies in this series and expect San Francisco to get Game 2 tonight behind the pitching of lefty Barry Zito (9-12, 3.99 ERA).
The Giants won Monday night 9-1 and have moved to within 3 1/2 games of the Rockies in the wildcard race. Colorado has gone into a funk after its eight-game winning streak, now losers of three in a row, the Rockies have been a disaster on the road lately, going 1-6 as a visitor, 0-4 on the road against southpaws and 0-6 against winning teams.
In this rivalry, the home team has won seven straight and nine of 10, giving the Giants a distinct advantage in this one. Something Zito has not been known for is consistency, but this season he's been the model of consistency. He's held each of his last 10 opponents to three runs or less and he's gone at least six innings in nine of his last 10 starts.
Zito has dominated the Rockies this season in three outings, allowing a combined two runs (one earned) in 21.1 innings of work. In fact, he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in an outing to the Rockies since May of 2007.
Ubaldo Jimenez (13-10, 3.32) goes for Colorado for the fifth time this season against San Francisco. The Rockies are 2-2 in the first four outings, losing both times he's started in San Francisco, and they are just 4-10 in his last 14 roadies overall.
The Giants are 4-1 in Zito's last five at home and 21-7 when they are at home against a team with a winning road record. San Francisco is definitely the play in this one. Go with the Giants and the plus-money.
Bobby Maxwell 9/15
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