Giants vs. Nationals: NLDS Game 1 TV Schedule, Preview, Prediction
USA Today Sports
National League Division Series Game 1: San Francisco Giants (88-74) @ Washington Nationals (96-66)
Game Time, TV: Friday, October 3, 2014 – 3:07 PM ET on Fox Sports 1
Probable Starters: Jake Peavy (7-13, 3.73 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg (14-11, 3.14 ERA)
On the heels of a Madison Bumgarner shutout win in the NL Wild Card game, the Giants will head to America’s capital to take on the Nationals Friday afternoon.
There was little drama for the Giants in their WC beatdown of the Pittsburgh Pirates, but there’s no doubt they should have a fair amount of momentum and a ton of confidence coming into Game 1 of the NLDS. After all, this is a San Francisco team seeking its third World Series title of the past five years.
You can even say that the Giants have a dynasty on the line this October.
As for Washington, the franchise is only making its third overall playoff appearance (one as Montreal Expos in 1981, one as Nationals in 2012).
You may remember a little controversy surrounding the Nats the last time they played in October. It involved Strasburg, or more specifically, it didn’t involve him. The Phenom had already been shut down for precautionary reasons after undergoing elbow surgery the year prior.
The Nats played it safe and banked on getting back to the situation they’re in right now. Given the circumstances, it’s appropriate that Strasburg is getting the nod in Game 1, in what will be his first ever playoff start.
As for Peavy and the Giants, they’ve made quite a combo ever since the right-hander came over from Boston in July. Peavy has looked much more like his old self, registering a 2.17 ERA in 12 starts with San Fran. The Giants have also won eight times in his last nine starts.
In addition, San Francisco is on an eight-game playoff win steak, dating back to the WS in 2010.
Game 1 should be mostly dominated by pitching, but look for the bats to get going eventually.
Prediction: The Nationals ride The Phenom to a 4-3 win.
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