MLB Picks 2012: Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants

The Arizona Diamondbacks (66-70) and San Francisco Giants (77-58) will continue a National League West series on Tuesday night at AT&T Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:15 ET

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants C Buster Posey is a legitimate NL MVP candidate heading down the stretch

Arizona is watching its 2012 MLB season slip away in dropping back-to-back games in walk-off fashion, as the clubhouse will need to muster up some type of motivation in this spot. “We’ve just got to get out of it right now,” stated Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. Offensively, the team has been slumping a big, scoring more than four runs in a game just once since Aug. 21. Sitting 7.5 games out of the NL’s second wild card is a tall mountain to climb.

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (12-11, 4.27 ERA) has alternated wins and losses over his last four outings, coming off a 2-0 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing just two hits in 6.1 shutout innings. The right-hander is 7-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 16 road starts, surrendering 12 home runs in 99.1 combined frames. In 12 career games versus the Giants, Kennedy has compiled an impressive 6-2 record and 2.01 ERA, with opposing hitters batting .196 against him.

San Francisco is now a season-best 19 games above the .500 mark after picking up a 9-8 come-from-behind victory on Monday, with the entire team fired up to make a major September run. “It was one of the best, if not the best, wins of the year,” stated Giants MVP candidate Buster Posey. The Giants have taken ahold of the division by winning 13 of their last 17 games. Posey has a chance to continue that success, going 8 for 20 lifetime against Kennedy at the plate. San Francisco is 21-7 as a home favorite of -110 to -150.

Giants starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (12-7, 3.02 ERA) has won back-to-back starts over the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves, allowing seven runs and 11 hits over 12.1 combined innings. The right-hander is 6-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 13 home outings, issuing 30 walks and striking out 63 batters in 85 frames. In 73 career appearances (41 starts) after the All-Star break, Vogelsong has compiled an even 20-20 record and 4.40 ERA, including a 9-8 mark and 4.29 ERA in September.