Giants v. Rangers

Fall Classic MatchupPublished Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 11:19PM EDTLast updated Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 11:37PM EDT0 comments

A look at the best-of-seven World Series between the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants:

Schedule: (All times EDT) Game 1, Wednesday, at San Francisco (7:57 p.m.); Game 2, Thursday, at San Francisco (7:57 p.m.); Game 3, Saturday, at Arlington, Texas (6:57 p.m.); Game 4, Sunday, at Arlington, Texas (8:20 p.m.); x-Game 5, Monday, Nov. 1, at Arlington, Texas (6:57 p.m.); x-Game 6, Wednesday, Nov. 3, at San Francisco (7:57 p.m.); x-Game 7, Thursday, Nov. 4, at San Francisco (7:57 p.m.). (All games on FOX).

x-if necessary.

Season Series: Did not play.

Projected Lineups

Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus (.265, 0 HRs, 35 RBIs, 88 runs, 32/47 SBs), 3B Michael Young (.284, 21, 91, 99 runs, career-high 115 strikeouts), CF Josh Hamilton (major league-leading .359, 32, 100), RF Vladimir Guerrero (.300, 29, 115), LF Nelson Cruz (.318, 22, 78 in 108 games), 2B Ian Kinsler (.286, 9, 45), C Bengie Molina (.240, 2, 19 in 57 games since acquired from San Francisco), 1B Mitch Moreland (.255, 9, 25 in 47 games since called up from Triple-A on July 29).

Giants: CF Andres Torres (.268, 16, 63, 26 SBs), 2B Freddy Sanchez (.292, 7, 47), 1B Aubrey Huff (.290, 26, 86), C Buster Posey (.305, 18, 67 after being called up from minors May 29), LF Pat Burrell (.266, 18, 51, signed to minor league deal May 29 after release by Tampa Bay and called up from Triple-A on June 4), RF Cody Ross (.269, 14, 65 with Florida and Giants), 3B Juan Uribe (.248, 24, 85), SS Edgar Renteria (.276, 3, 22 in 72 games).

Projected Rotations

Rangers: LH Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA, 7 CGs in 28 starts, 185 Ks, 18 walks, 212 1-3 innings; 4-6, 3.98 in 15 starts after acquired from Seattle on July 9), LH C.J. Wilson (15-8, 3.35, 3 CGs in 33 starts), RH Colby Lewis (12-13, 3.72 in career-high 201 innings), RH Tommy Hunter (13-4, 3.73) or LH Derek Holland (3-4, 4.08).

Giants: RH Matt Cain (13-11, 3.14, 177 Ks), RH Tim Lincecum (16-10, 3.43, 231 Ks), LH Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07, 205 Ks, career-high 193 1-3 innings), LH Madison Bumgarner (7-6, 3.00, 86 Ks in 18 starts as rookie).

Relievers

Rangers: RH Neftali Feliz (4-3, 2.37, MLB rookie-record 40 saves in 43 chances), RH Darren O'Day (6-2, 2.03 in 72 games), RH Alexi Ogando (4-1, 1.30 in 44 games), LH Darren Oliver (1-2, 2.48 ERA in 64 games), LH Clay Rapada (0-0, 4.00 in 13 games after September call-up), LH Michael Kirkman (0-0, 1.65 in 14 games after Aug. 20 recall).

Giants: RH Brian Wilson (3-3, 1.81, major league-best 48/53 saves), RH Ramon Ramirez (1-0, 0.67, 1 save), LH Javier Lopez (4-2, 2.34), LH Jeremy Affeldt (4-3, 4.14, 4 saves), RH Santiago Casilla (7-2, 1.95, 2 saves), RH Sergio Romo (5-3, 2.18).

Matchups

Rangers make it four times in six seasons that a team is playing in its first World Series. Previous three all lost in five games or fewer: Houston (2005), Colorado (2007) and Tampa Bay (2008). ... Giants haven't won World Series since upsetting Cleveland Indians in 1954, when Willie Mays and Co. played at Polo Grounds in New York. Club moved to San Francisco for 1958 season, three years before Rangers franchise began play as expansion Washington Senators. Team moved to Texas, with Ted Williams as manager, and changed name in 1972. Rangers make first World Series appearance in franchise's 50th season. ... Giants lead all-time series against Texas 15-7 and have won last seven meetings (2001-09). Rangers have lost 11 in a row in San Francisco, where they are 2-12. ... Rangers and Giants both hit 162 home runs during regular season, averaging one per game. In playoffs, Texas had 17 in 11 games and Giants hit six in 10 games. ... Lee is 3-0 with 1.13 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco while holding Giants to .159 batting average. He has 21 strikeouts and four walks in 24 innings, and threw complete game against them on July 31, 2009, his first start for Philadelphia after being traded from Cleveland. ... Molina was Giants' starting catcher for 3 1 / 2 seasons until they traded him to Texas on July 1. That cleared the way in San Francisco for rookie Posey to be everyday catcher. Molina hit .276 with 58 home runs and 273 RBIs in 472 games for the Giants. ... Guerrero is .330 career hitter against Giants, with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 62 games. He was primarily DH this season, playing only 18 games in outfield. He's likely to move back to old spot in right during games in San Francisco, where NL rules prohibit DH. Bad knees from all those years on hard turf in Montreal have slowed him, and right field in San Francisco can be tricky, with some odd angles and long runs. Look for strong-armed Jeff Francoeur to play RF against left-handed starters back home in Texas. ... Giants can use switch-hitter Pablo S andoval at DH in Texas. His production dropped off dramatically this season, but “Kung Fu Panda” is still dangerous at plate. ... Oliver, 40, was a starter and the loser when Texas lost 8-3 to San Francisco on June 12, 1997, in baseball's first interleague game. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 7 2-3 innings. ... Giants have home-field advantage in World Series because NL won All-Star game in July, first victory over AL since 1996.