Series Preview: San Francisco Giants

The Marlins got a rather odd off-day after an off-day on Thursday, but they are back in action tonight against the San Francisco Giants. Here’s your preview for the three-game set.

San Francisco Giants (14-10) @ Florida Marlins, May 4-6, Games 26-28

NL East Standings

Tm	W	L	Win%	GB
PHI	14	11	.560	—
NYM	14	12	.538	0.5
FLA	13	12	.520	1.0
WSN	13	12	.520	1.0
ATL	11	14	.440	3.0

Stadium: Sun Life Stadium
Five-year Run PF*: 0.99
Five-year HR PF*: 0.97
Stadium Dimensions:
Left Field: 330 ft.
Left-Center: 361
Center Field: 404
Right-Center: 361
Right Field: 345

*Five-year regressed park factors provided by Patriot here

Projected Pitching Matchups

May 4: Anibal Sanchez vs. Tim Lincecum
May 5: Nate Robertson vs. Barry Zito
May 6: Ricky Nolasco vs. Matt Cain

ZiPS In-Season Projections

FIP	Win%	Marlins	Date	Giants	Win%	FIP
4.17	.497	Sanchez	May 4	Lincecum	.707	2.51
4.55	.455	Robertson	May 5	Zito	.485	4.27
3.58	.566	Nolasco	May 6	Cain	.558	3.65

Projected Lineup

Lineup	Player	Current wOBA	Proj. wOBA v. RHP	Proj. wOBA v. LHP
1	Cameron Maybin	.294	.302	.316
2	Chris Coghlan	.207	.342	.315
3	Hanley Ramirez	.401	.404	.424
4	Jorge Cantu	.385	.335	.353
5	Dan Uggla	.388	.356	.365
6	John Baker/Ronny Paulino*	.326/.369	.330	.348
7	Cody Ross	.300	.331	.364
8	Gaby Sanchez	.360	.336	.366

*Baker and Paulino are platooning. Projected wOBA vs. RHP is for Baker, vs. LHP is for Paulino.

Notes

– Quietly, Cody Ross is struggling. While the slumps of Cameron Maybin and Chris Coghlan have been well-documented, Ross has mostly gotten away with an awful first month of the season. Each of those three guys should start regressing soon, with Ross most likely to return to his 2009 form. Interestingly enough, Ross is hitting about as well as last year in terms of batting average (.264 in 2010, .270 in 2009) and OBP (.304 in 2010, .321 in 2009), but Ross’ majestic power punch has dissipated so far this year. He’ll get back into it, I’m sure.

– I’ll be sure to tune in today to listen to Tim Lincecum vs. Anibal Sanchez. I don’t think we have a shot against the Freak (or Big Time Timmy Jim, if you prefer), but I’d like to at least bear witness.

– Barry Zito looks to dominate us like he did last year. Back when it was still fun to make fun of Barry Zito and his contract, he dominated us in 8 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking just one. Combined with our team’s supposed inability to hit slow-tossing lefties, and we have ourselves one scary opponent. Beware the curve.

– Reliever Clay Hensley returned to the team from the bereavement list. Tim Wood was optioned down to Triple-A.

Bold Prediction: Marlins win one of three games.

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