Giants vs Phillies: Live Stream, Injuries, Pitching Matchups and Fantasy Preview

Two teams on the opposite ends of the baseball spectrum will battle this weekend as the San Francisco Giants continue their East Coast swing against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Giants lead the NL West while the Phillies sit in the NL East basement.

The Giants found themselves in an early hole due to a red-hot start by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but have worked their way back up the ladder while the Dodgers cooled down. One of the biggest reasons for their resurgence has been big offensive contributions from unexpected places.

On the other side, Philadelphia has finally started getting some of its injured stars back. Unfortunately for the team's fans, it might already be too late. The Phillies are already 10 games out of a playoff spot and would need an extended hot streak to get back in the mix.

Here's a look at all the vital information for the series, including viewing info for the series opener, pitching information and a look at the players who will have a major impact this weekend.

When: Friday, July 20 at 7:05 p.m. ET

Where: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

Watch: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco) and WB17 (Philadelphia)

Live Stream: MLB.tv

Injury Report (via CBSSports)

Giants: Brian Wilson (out, elbow), Freddy Sanchez (out, shoulder/back) and Aubrey Huff (rehab, knee)

Phillies: Jose Contreras (out, elbow) and Laynce Nix (rehab, calf)

Starting for San Francisco: Tim Lincecum

To say Tim Lincecum has been a disappointment would be a colossal understatement. His ERA is near 6.00—which is more than three runs higher than last season—and hitters have been squaring up pitches from him like never before.

He still has a high strikeout rate, but it's been offset by the highest walk rate of his career. That lack of command has been the biggest issue and will need to get fixed if he wants to improve down the stretch. The peripheral numbers (3.72 xFIP) say he's due to bounce back.

Lincecum has had success against the Phillies in the past. In 10 career starts, he's 4-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. Most of Philadelphia's returning stars haven't got locked in at the plate yet, giving him a chance to have a strong outing.

Matt Cain and Barry Zito are scheduled to pitch Games 2 and 3.

Starting for Philadelphia: Vance Worley

Vance Worley doesn't get a lot of attention due to Philadelphia's plentiful star power, but he's turned into a really solid starter for the Phillies. After breaking out last season, he's proven to be a lot more than a flash in the pan, sporting a 3.47 ERA in 15 starts.

His presence in the rotation has been especially important because of Roy Halladay's injury and general lack of dominance. While Worley will probably never become an ace of a staff, he's capable of filling one of those middle slots to perfection.

The 24-year-old right-hander made two starts against the Giants last season. He went 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a .179 batting average against. This year's version of the San Francisco is a little tougher, though. So the challenge will be tougher.

Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton are scheduled to pitch Games 2 and 3.

Giants Fantasy Studs

Melky Cabrera

Give credit to Melky Cabrera for working hard. Two seasons ago, he was downright terrible for the Atlanta Braves and it started to look like he would never reach his potential. But after a good rebound season with the Kansas City Royals, he has really taken his game to a new level in 2012.

He's hitting .357—which ranks second in the National League—with 10 steals, nine home runs and eight triples. That type of all-around ability has made him a great fantasy addition off the waiver wire for many owners in need of outfield help.

Buster Posey

In a season where many of the league's high-profile catchers have struggled to reach expectations, Buster Posey hasn't missed a beat. The Giants star is hitting .308 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI.

San Francisco's offense doesn't have a lot of pop, which means the pressure will remain on Posey to perform. He should continue to serve as an elite player at a weak position for fantasy purposes.

Phillies Fantasy Studs

Carlos Ruiz

Few players in all of baseball have been a bigger surprise than Carlos Ruiz. He was always viewed as a solid—yet unspectacular—hitter during the first portion of his career. That has changed this season with a tremendous first half.

He's carrying a .350 batting average to go along with 14 home runs and 51 RBI. The 14 round-trippers are already five more than his previous career high with plenty of time left. That has made plenty of fantasy owners happy.

Juan Pierre

Juan Pierre has played for six teams during his career, which is somewhat surprising because teams should known what they are going to get from him. He's going to provide a reasonable batting average and plenty of speed on the bases.

This season has been no different as he sits at .312 with 21 steals. While he has helped keep the Phillies offense from completely falling apart, Pierre has been an even bigger find for fantasy owners who took a chance on him earlier in the year.

Game 1 Prediction

Giants 4, Phillies 3