Cardinals vs. Giants, 2012 NLCS Game 7: Time, TV schedule, starting pitchers and more
The San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals will face off for a final time, and the victor will have a date with the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
When: Monday, October 22 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX
Starting pitchers: Matt Cain vs. Kyle Lohse
Matt Cain posted another strong campaign as the horse of San Francisco's rotation, but he has run into some difficulties in October. If his recent trends continue, St. Louis can expect to score three runs off Cain. The Reds touched the righty up for six runs in 10⅔ innings in the NLDS, scoring three runs in each game, and the Cardinals plated three against Cain in Game 3 over 6⅔ innings.
Meanwhile, Kyle Lohse is coming off a career year on the mound, and he has carried that dominance into the postseason. In his lone start against the Nationals in the NLDS, the righty held Washington's offense to just two hits and one run (off a homer) in seven innings. Though he was not nearly as sharp against the Giants in Game 3, Lohse reeled off 5⅔ innings of one-run ball. However, he allowed 12 baserunners on seven hits and five walks.
Matt Holliday, who is already dealing with a balky back, will find no relief facing Cain. Holliday has more at-bats than any other Cardinal against Cain, but in 50 trips to the dish, Holliday has come away hitting .186/.260/.419. Three of his eight hits are homers, but he also has 11 strikeouts. Carlos Beltran, who is also recovering from an injury, has fared much better against the Giants' righty; he has hit Cain to the tune of .368/.429/.737 in 21 plate appearances.
Ryan Theriot could be looking forward to seeing Lohse on the rubber; the infielder is a career .545/.545/.818 hitter against the righty, with a pair of doubles and triples to beef up his slugging. Hunter Pence, who has had a disastrous series at the dish, might pick up some slack on Monday. In 52 plate appearances against Lohse, Pence has hit .280/.308/.360 with two doubles and a triple.
