For the first time so far in the playoffs, we’ve got a night with just one game. It’s a potential elimination game in Atlanta between the Giants and the Braves, and here’s all the information you’ll need to settle in and enjoy.
2010 MLB Playoffs: Braves Vs. Giants NLDS Game 4 Viewing Guide
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Time: 7:37pm ET
Starting Pitchers: RHP Derek Lowe vs. LHP Madison Bumgarner
Series: 2-1 San Francisco
TV: TBS
TV Announcers: Dick Stockton and Bob Brenly
Radio: ESPN Radio
Radio Announcers: Chris Berman, Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe
Umpires: Dana DeMuth, Paul Nauert, Paul Emmel, Mike Winters, Jerry Layne, Ed Hickox
MLB.com Gameday: Link
Team Blogs: Talking Chop, McCovey Chronicles
Situation
Live by the drama, die by the drama. The Braves were able to surprise an awful lot of people when they came back from the dead to win Game 2, and then they surprised a lot of people again when they shot out to a late Game 3 lead on the back of pinch-hitter Eric Hinske. But a devastating ninth-inning collapse by Brooks Conrad and the bullpen has Atlanta now facing elimination on its own home field, and neither Conrad nor Bobby Cox is in any mood to see it end. Not like this. The Braves will come out and try to put Game 3 behind them, while the Giants will try to issue as many reminders as possible.
Three Keys
(1) The Braves' hopes lie in the hands of Derek Lowe, who will be starting on three days' rest. Lowe was very effective opposite Tim Lincecum in Game 1 of this series, allowing just one run and four hits over 5.1 innings while striking out six. The obvious question will be how fresh he feels after having so recently thrown 96 mostly stressful, high-leverage pitches. A lot of people like to say that a tired arm throws a better sinker, but there's no real available evidence that this is true. It will be interesting to see if the Giants counter Lowe by going with Mike Fontenot at third base again instead of Pablo Sandoval. Fontenot and Sandoval would both bat left-handed against Lowe, so the platoon advantage is the same, but Fontenot offers the superior eye and ability to beat out grounders to the infield.
(2) Though there was some debate, Bruce Bochy has opted to go with the rookie Bumgarner over Tim Lincecum on short rest. Bumgarner hasn’t pitched in a game since September 30th. However, he was very effective during the year, against hitters from both sides. Facing lefties, Bumgarner will throw his fastball, curveball, and slider all over, not sticking with any particular side of the plate. Facing righties, he’ll throw his fastball all over, but he’ll pound his slider in while keeping his changeup away. He’s more of a strikeout arm against lefties, and more of a groundball arm against righties.
(3) The Braves used nearly their entire bullpen to try and keep the Giants down on Sunday, and they couldn't do the job. Now they play again a day later, with a starting pitcher on short rest who couldn't finish the sixth in a start earlier in the series. Once again, one has to wonder how fresh the relievers are going to be. Jonny Venters warmed up and threw 20 big pitches. Craig Kimbrel warmed up and threw 19 bigger pitches. Michael Dunn, Peter Moylan, and Kyle Farnsworth didn't last long in the game, but they still had to go to the effort to prepare. This is a concern. The Giants used their bullpen, too, but they only went with two guys. The Braves went with five. They're going to need Lowe to eat a lot of innings.
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