Atlanta Braves-San Francisco Giants:NLDS Preview and Prediction

The last match-up we will take a look at, is between two teams that didn’t have their playoff fate decided until the last game of the year. Both the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants made it to the postseason on the 162nd game of the year and now will face each other in the NLDS.

Let’s take a look at this series at a glance…

Schedule

Game 1: Thursday, Oct. 7 at 9:37 PM est. Derek Lowe vs. Tim Lincecum

Game 2: Friday, Oct. 8 at 9:37 PM est. Tommy Hanson vs. Matt Cain

Game 3: Sunday, Oct. 10 at 4:37 PM est. Jonathan Sanchez vs. Tim Hudson

*Game 4: Monday, Oct. 11 at 8:37 PM est. TBD vs. TBD

*Game 5: Wednesday, Oct 13 at 9:37 PM est.

*Denotes If Necessary

Season Series

Braves 4-3

Prediction

I am really looking forward to this match-up. There a lot of good story lines to this series.

Will this be Bobby Cox’s last games as a Braves’ manager? Do the Braves have anything left? How will Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez fare in their first postseason appearance? Can Pat Burrell and Juan Uribe continue their magical offensive runs?

All pose good questions, but I think this series comes down to one thing and that is the bullpens. I have all the faith in the world in the Giants’ bullpen and I think the Braves’ pen is running on fumes right now.

Jonny Venters seems to be running on empty. Peter Moylan has appeared in 85 games. And in no way do I trust Billy Wagner in a big spot. I will venture to say Wagner is the worst postseason closer of the last 30 years.

Wagner has 10.32 ERA in 13 career postseason games. I will never forget sitting in the stands of Game 1 of the 2006 NLDS, a game between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, and hearing the collective "Uh oh," from the crowd when Wagner entered in the ninth.

He will blow a game in this series at some point.

While everyone talks about the Giants’ starting rotation, there bullpen is just as solid. Not only is Brian Wilson one of the premier closers in the game (1.81 ERA, 11.2 K/9), but their underneath guys are very solid as well.

Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla are two fire-ballers, who throw in the mid-90′s and Ramon Ramirez seems to be rejuvenated (0.67 ERA) since coming over from the Boston Red Sox. One match-up to watch for late in the game will be Javier Lopez against Brian McCann or Jason Heyward.

I think this will be a closely played series throughout, but I have a hard time seeing how the Braves can beat Lincecum and Cain twice in a short series. The Braves will keep it close, but the Giants will prevail.

Giants in five

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