NewsGiants in contention at midpoint
San Francisco (44-36) vs. Houston (38-41), 1:05 p.m. PT
By Andrew Pentis / MLB.com
07/04/09 7:09 PM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- When is it OK to talk about a team's postseason chances? How about the halfway point?On Sunday in their series finale with the visiting Houston Astros, the Giants play their 81st of 162 games. Randy Johnson will take the mound against the team he won 10 games for in a brief 1998 stint.
Johnson's current club stands a chance at making the playoffs, as the Giants are, despite being 6 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, leading the NL Wild Card race.
Through 81 games last season, manager Bruce Bochy's team was 11 games under .500 and finished 18 below that mark on the season. With a 44-36 record this year, San Francisco is fighting for its first postseason berth since 2003.
"We're happy that we're in the middle of it," Bochy said. "We have a lot of baseball left. We aren't thinking about the Wild Card."
That would be wise. Before play Saturday, six NL teams were within five games of closing in on the Giants. Those squads hail from each of the West, East and Central divisions. The battle in the East was the tightest, with two games separating four teams in the standings. So, the Giants may be best served keeping their watch on the division-leading Dodgers.
"There's a lot of close races," Bochy said. "I can't believe how bunched up these divisions are."
Too early to worry about the playoffs? Apparently so.
Pitching matchup
SF: LHP Randy Johnson (8-5, 4.70 ERA)
The Big Unit picked up career victory No. 303 on Tuesday at St. Louis. Two Albert Pujols home runs marred his 5 1/3-inning performance, but Johnson yielded just two other hits as the Giants prevailed, 6-3. If Johnson's pitching, expect reliever Brian Wilson to follow at some point. Wilson has saved each of Johnson's victories, marking the eighth time in big league history that one pitcher saved a teammate's first eight wins in a season. Johnson, who was 10-1 for the Astros in the second half of the 1998 season, is 4-1 in seven career starts against them.
After winning one game in the first two months of the regular season, Oswalt went 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA in six starts in June. He's coming off his best start of the season, a two-hitter at San Diego on Monday, in which the only run scored on a wild pitch. He's 4-5 with a 3.98 ERA in 12 career starts against the Giants, and 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in eight career starts at AT&T Park. Tidbits
Bochy said he expects the Giants to eventually return to having a 12-man pitching staff shortly before or after the July 13-15 All-Star break. ... The Giants have opposed right-handed pitchers in nine straight games and are slated to do the same in seven of their next eight contests. ... Former San Francisco hurlers Matt Herges (Cleveland Indians) and Jack Taschner (Philadelphia Phillies) both were designated for assignment this week. ... With Matt Downs' demotion Friday night, three middle infielders (Downs, Kevin Frandsen and Emmanuel Burriss) will be vying for playing time at Triple-A Fresno. ... Jonathan Sanchez has tossed three scoreless innings of relief since being relegated to the bullpen. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• CSN-BA On radio
• KNBR 680, KIQI (Español), KATD 990 (Sp.) Up next
• Monday: Giants (Matt Cain, 9-2, 2.48) vs. Marlins (Sean West, 3-2, 4.06), 7:15 p.m. PT
• Tuesday: Giants (Barry Zito, 4-8, 4.82) vs. Marlins (Josh Johnson, 7-1, 2.76), 7:15 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Giants (Ryan Sadowski, 2-0, 0.00) vs. Marlins (Chris Volstad, 5-8, 4.85), 12:45 p.m. PT
Andrew Pentis is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
