Diamondbacks Series Showdown With Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks (59-49) have managed to hang around the NL West leading San Francisco Giants (61-47) despite plenty of punditry that would suggest otherwise. Just two games back, the teams open a three-game series in the bay on Monday that will decide the fate of the NL West...at least for the next few weeks.

The Giants and their fans at this point certainly can't be too worried about the D-backs. "Sure," you can hear them saying, "it's a nice story and maybe someday they will challenge, but eventually that Arizona team is going to fade. They weren't even supposed to be a .500 team this season and even more telling is the head-to-head record."

The Giants have won seven of nine meetings this year against the Diamondbacks and if Arizona really wants respect (and a chance to win the division) they are going to have to take at least two of these next three games. It won't be easy with the way the pitching rotations match up but it should be great fun.

Monday (7:15 p.m. PT) Ian Kennedy vs. Matt Cain
Tuesday (7:15 p.m. PT) Daniel Hudson vs Tim Lincecum
Wednesday (12:45 p.m. PT) Jason Marquis vs Ryan Vogelsong

It sure would have been nice to have the suddenly dominant Joe Saunders in there but that's not how it worked out. We will get to see both of the D-backs new arms with Marquis getting the start in the final game of the series and Brad Zeigler available in the pen along with maybe Josh Collmenter or maybe Micah Owings.

The Monday and Tuesday meetings are on Fox Sports Arizona but the Wednesday day game looks like it's radio only. Live game threads will be firing each day at AZ Snake Pit.

Bring 'em on!