Programming note: Giants coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. today with a press conference announcing Madison Bumgarner's contract extension, and we'll stream it right here; Phillies-Giants coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCOTim Lincecum is still trying to find his rhythm. Roy Halladay is not.The Phillies ace takes the mound Monday with a 2-0 record and 0.60 ERA in his first two starts of the season. He didnt face the Giants last year, so this will be his first start against them since the 2010 NLCS.RELATED: Roy Halladay game logs
Everyone remembers Cody Rosss two-homer game as Lincecum defeated Halladay in that series opener. Fewer recall that Halladay got even in Game 5, when the Giants played sloppy behind Lincecum.It remains a marquee matchup, even if Lincecum has a 12.91 ERA after his first two outings. He got hit hard in Arizona and Colorado, but is hoping to have better command of his fastball and more drop on his changeup now that hes removed from dry, spring training-like conditions.RELATED: Tim Lincecum game logs
Here are some other subplots to watch for in this series at AT&T Park:Manuels labor:Phillies manager Charlie Manuel didnt make any friends in San Francisco last year when he said that Lincecum and Matt Cain were good, not great pitchers and that the Phillies could handle their stuff. Manuel will get both pitchers in this series.Missing persons:Brian Wilson struck out Ryan Howard for the final out of that tense NLCS. Now Wilson is headed for Dr. James Andrews office in Florida for likely season-ending surgery and Howard remains out with an Achilles injury.History:The Giants lost three of four to the Phillies at home last year, but took two of three at Citizens Bank Park. That road series in late July was the high point of the Giants season, though. After adding Carlos Beltran in Philly, they proceeded to get swept in Cincinnati and went 11-18 in August.
The remainder of the series:Tuesday: Right-hander Joe Blanton (1-1, 2.35) vs. left-hander Madison Bumgarner (1-1, 3.97), 7:15 p.m. PDT.Wednesday: Left-hander Cliff Lee (0-1. 3.46) will oppose right-hander Cain (1-0, 3.00) on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. PDT.
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