first pitch: 7:15 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Chris Young (11-5, 3.46 ERA) vs Matt Cain (13-12, 4.15 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
Not to bring anyone down after that excellent Opening Day shutout, but it was only one game. We’ve got a long way to go, and I, for one, will be loving every minute of it.
The Padres and Giants hook up again tonight in San Francisco. This promises to be one gem of a pitching matchup. Chris Young enjoyed some serious success in his first National League season, finishing sixth in the league in ERA. His 2.41 ERA on the road was best in the NL last year. Young also destroyed left-handed batters to the tune of .176/.259/.309, which is fascinating for a guy who doesn’t change speeds much.
As for Matt Cain, he’s young and he’s real good. His overall numbers as a rookie last year were pretty solid, but he pitched especially well after the All-Star break:
| GS | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 99.1 | 3.26 | 6.98 | 0.72 | 3.62 | 8.97 | .214 | .296 | .357 |
That’s sick. Honestly, if there’s one pitcher in the NL West that I think could be another Jake Peavy, Cain is the guy. There aren’t many chinks in his armor. About the only thing I could find is his performance with a runner on first base. In that situation, opponents hit .262/.358/.551 last season. It’s only 130 plate appearances, so who can say if this is legit. Still…
Should be a good one. Go Padres!