Zito Looks to Stop the Red Birds in Game Two of the Series

Barry Zito will have his hands full tonight with the surging Cardinals. St.Louis, who have won four straight games, are fresh off a good beating of Matt Cain and the rest of the Giants' pitching staff last night.

Zito, who is fresh off an atrocious outing against the Mets on Thursday ( 7 ER in 4.1 IP), will look to prove the critics wrong once again. He doesn't have much working in his favor, though. It's expected to be a hot night in St.Louis, Zito is 1-6 with a 5.23 ERA against the Cardinals in eight career starts, and the Cardinals' offense is very stingy. They are everything but a free swinging bunch at the plate, which doesn't favor Zito who is prone to walking batters in bunches.

His counterpart, Lance Lynn is in the midst of a breakout year for St.Louis. Despite getting roughed up for five runs in his last start on June 2nd, he's undefeated against the N.L West this year (3-0, 2.79 ERA), and was elected to his first All-Star game back in July.

Lynn, the power throwing right-hander, has made one career start against the Giants which didn't go all that well. In 5.1 innings pitched he surrendered five runs, but struck out five batters to post a mediocre line.

Here's what Bruce Bochy is rolling with against Lynn:


1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Melky Cabrera (S) LF
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
7. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
8. Joaquin Arias (R) 3B
9. Barry Zito (L) P

Posted in: Barry Zito,Bruce Bochy,Lance Lynn,Matt Cain,San Francisco Giants,St. Louis Cardinals