Senators visit Giants for four-game set in San Francisco

As the weather starts heating up, so do the match-ups around Major League Baseball. Take for instance a four-game set between Washington at San Francisco with Stephen Strasburg (5-4, 3.10) against Ryan Vogelsong (4-2, 3.39 ERA).

The Nationals visit the West Coast at 32-29, and more importantly 7-3 over the last 10 games. Naturally, the key to the team is pitching, with Strasburg 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three career starts against the Giants. However, this year Strasburg is 0-3 with a 4.80 ERA in five road games.

As for the Giants, which are leading the west at 42-21, Vogelsong has been on fire of late, going 3-0 with a 2.05 ERA over his last four games.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, “The club is getting contributions from everybody. Last year, it seemed like your hope is through the heart of the order and then you have to wait for them to come back around.”

The current line is Washington -115/SFO +100; o/u 6.5 –110.

While both teams are allowing basically the same amount of hits per game (8.64 Washington to 8.27 San Francisco), as well as runs scored per game (4.20 Washington and 4.34 San Francisco), Strasburg’s shaky season will help this game hit the over.

NOTE: The other good match-up in the series takes place tomorrow with Doug Fister (4-1, 3.19) on the mound for the Nationals against Madison Bumgarner (8-3, 2.68) for the Giants.