Out of the Gate

...  a little early, we'll admit. OK. This Milwaukee series is too critical for us to sit back and wait until Friday, so here we go with thirty games left on the schedule. 

GIANTS        84-48                        Maybe Quintana should have started?

LA                  84-49       .5  GB      Have handled Braves just fine so far. 

San Diego      71-62   13.5  GB      Tied with Reds for second wild-card.

Colorado        60-72     24   GB      Terrible road record. 

Arizona          44-90     41   GB      Even worse road record.

Yesterday

Giants lost to Milwaukee, 6-2; Johnny Cueto's worst start of the season. 

LA defeated Atlanta, 3-2. scoring the winning run in the 8th.

Today

Giants host Milwaukee again, 6:45 PDT. Kevin Gausman saddles up for his most important start of the season so far. Lefty Brett Anderson opposes.

Atlanta's at LA. Two guys named Max--  Fried and Scherzer-- get the start.   

Last Night's Game

Cueto's Game Score of 16 is the second-lowest of any Giant starter this year (Anthony DeSclafani infamously put up a goose-egg against LA last month). He allowed twelve baserunners, ten on hits, and six runs, all earned, though a couple were aided by some uncertain Giants fielding. Quintana, the new guy, went about the same distance in relief (3 1/3) and allowed only one hit.  Maybe he really should have started.  This team could use a jolt from a fresh face right about now. Brandon Belt joined Yaz in the Giants' 20-homer club before the night was over, but the team went 0-for-8 with RISP and, let's face it, this lineup hasn't been right for a week. 

Brandon Woodruff, who got the win, along with Corbin Burnes from Monday and tonight's starter Anderson, are the same three who faced the Giants at Miller Park three weeks ago. Each put up a quality start then, too (69, 63, 56) but none of them got a decision because all three games were decided late, two in extra innings, and two by thrilling Giants comebacks. On August 7, Woodruff exited a 1-1 pitchers' duel in the eighth; the Giants went ahead 2-1 in the ninth but Milwaukee tied it. The Giants scored three in the tenth-- and Milwaukee tied it. Then they scored four in the eleventh and Milwaukee-- well, they scored one run but finally and at last the Giants prevailed, 9-6. Game of the year, so far. 

The point being, Burnes and Woodruff have gone (69, 63) again in this series, and it would behoove the Giants to not let Brother Anderson stick around too long tonight.  Seven-run extra-inning rallies remain rare even in this age of three-true-outcome baseball.