3 Things To Watch For During Giants' Second Half
The best record in baseball + an even year = a great chance for another World Series.
The San Francisco Giants ended the first half of the season with a 57-33 record, the best record in baseball.
However, San Francisco has not been crowned World Series Champions just yet; the second half of the season still needs to be played out.
There are some things to watch out for in the second half which could have a big influence in the Giants run for another even year World Series.
Here are the three things to watch for in the Giants' second half:
1. Add Depth In Lineup, Pitching Staff Before July 31st Trade Deadline
Although the Giants have the best record in baseball, injuries have been a big issue for the team. They have found ways to battle through them, but the team's depth needs to be addressed.
Joe Panik, Hunter Pence and Matt Duffy should be returning to the lineup soon, which will help immensely.
Most of the teams which are in position for a playoff spot are looking to add bullpen depth and one of the names going around is the New York Yankees' Andrew Miller.
Miller is an elite left handed reliever who could really help a Giants bullpen which has been shaky all season.
The trade deadline will be an important time for the team. In typical Giants fashion, the team will make an under the radar move which everyone will question, but it will work out better than expected.
2. Nine Games Against Los Angeles Dodgers
The Giants may have the best record in baseball, but the Dodgers are only 6.5 games back of first place.
That size lead is not large enough to feel comfortable with 92 games left in the season. The Giants and Dodgers will also play each other 9 more times, including a three game series in San Francisco to end the season.
The Dodgers will most certainly make moves at the trade deadline, as well as the Giants.
The match-ups between the two will be most important, but as long as the Giants can keep the gap at four games going into the last series of the season, it will make that series meaningless.
The Giants own the season series to this point winning 6 of the 10 games between the N.L. West rivals.
3. Cy Young Watch
The Giants have two of the top pitchers in the National League this season.
Johnny Cueto, 13-1, and Madison Bumgarner, 10-4, have been the best one-two punch in the game. Both pitchers have a chance to win the Cy Young Award.
The leader in the race right now is the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, who is 11-2 with a Major League best 1.79 ERA.
Cueto and Bumgarner have the second and third best ERA in baseball, so the gap isn't too big.
Kershaw is currently on the Disabled List, which will give the Giants' starters a chance to close the gap for the Cy Young; yet another race between the Dodgers and Giants.
If one of the Giants starters wins the NL Cy Young Award, it would be the first for both pitchers.