Clayton Kershaw is getting all of the attention when it comes to winning the Cy Young award this season, but Madison Bumgarner is certainly putting together a season worth taking notice of. The San Francisco Giants pitcher has the chance to tie Kershaw in wins as the team prepares to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of a three-game series. The Giants snapped a three-game losing streak by getting the win on Tuesday off a Buster Posey home run and look to continue to momentum as they chase the Dodgers with 11 games to play.
The Giants currently sit at the top of the National League wild card rankings, but the team wants the West and are inching closer to the Dodgers with each win. Los Angeles has a three-game lead, but if San Francisco can get some momentum, they might be able to overtake them. The two teams will face off for a three-game series at Dodger Stadium next week.
Bumgarner is playing a huge role in the success as he is 18-9 on the season with a 2.91 ERA. He has won five straight games while putting together a 1.80 ERA with 41 strikeouts during that time. He got a big win over the Dodgers last Friday after he gave up just three hits while striking out nine. If he can get two more wins before the year is over, he will be the first Giants' pitcher to 20 wins since John Burkett in 1993.
The pitcher certainly likes facing off against the Diamondbacks. He is 2-1 with a 1.44 Era in his last five starts against Arizona. However, this season he has struggled against the team. He gave up 10 hits and four runs back in July while giving up four runs in four innings back in March. If the Giants are going to make headway in the race of the West, he needs to improve those numbers.
Arizona will hand the ball to rookie Andrew Chafin, making his second MLB appearance. He gave up three hits in five innings in his debut, but did not get the decision in the win. He was sent back to the minors following the game and is now back again. He is hoping to break the streak of losses for the Diamondbacks as the Giants have won eight of their last 10 meetings.
