Obviously I'd rather have the San Fran bullpen in this matchup.  So if we're starting from the back and moving forward, that's a concession we've gotta make.  But from there, ya know you look at yesterday's score.  And while SFG put up 5 runs, outside of the first inning their bats were pretty damn cold.  Arizona's pen hasn't been as bad this year as year's past.  And when you think about the edge that the power bats of Arizona have in their own park, I think it kinda crosses out the slim bullpen edge that San Fran may have, especially when you consider San Fran's innate ability to come up cold on the road.

So in terms of our starters, I'll say this.. Neither have their A game right now.  Both have been wild this year.  The difference for me is the fact that there are a lot of bats on that Arizona side that have had success against Zito.  Arizona is a team that will hit lefties, especially soft throwing lefties.  They'll put some pressure on Zito today.  Whereas I can see Saunders getting into trouble with his control, but finding ways out of innings.  That's what San Fran does on the road.. They leave men on base.  When Saunders is on, he pitches very well to contact, and hitters park or not.. San Fran isn't the most scary team out there when it comes to going deep. 

Both of these starters are capable of getting lit up today, the total speaks to that.  And if we're talking about a high scoring game like that, I gotta think it not only favors the home team, but it favors the team that is used to playing games in double digits.. That's Arizona.  1.5 units on the DBacks.

04/16/2011 9:48 AM