Bumgarner, San Francisco blow into Pittsburgh
Other hurlers may garner more headlines, but the numbers paint an unmistakably clear picture: Madison Bumgarner is the deadliest thrower in the game right now.
The stud lefty targets his eighth consecutive win as San Francisco visits Pittsburgh tonight, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at PNC Park. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv can’t help but lean toward Bruce Bochy’s troops here, whereas the floundering Pirates are +152 underdogs. The over/under run figure currently rests at eight.
It’s no coincidence that the Giants’ month-long reign of terror has coincided with perhaps the strongest stretch of Bumgarner’s career. Put the incessant Home Run Derby chatter on hold, and focus on the fact that the 2014 World Series MVP holds a 7-0 record with a 1.27 ERA since April 25. Bumgarner thrives on the road, too, carrying a .220 OBA and amassing 48 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings.
In other words, Clint Hurdle’s club should be scared. Very, very scared. The Buccos barely took one game from NL Central Chicago over the weekend, leaving them 15 back in the division race. We’re talking about a team that has gone 5-17 in the past three weeks. Left fielder Starling Marte’s continued absence from the lineup only makes matters worse.
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Jeff Locke limits opposing batters to a .248 average at home, so perhaps he’ll keep Pittsburgh in play for the majority of this evening’s series opener. Sooner or later, however, one expects Bumgarner’s sheer awesomeness to take effect. Bank on San Francisco to grab its ninth victory in a row.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: PIRATES/GIANTS UNDER 8 RUNS
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