Stretch run scrutiny: Breaking down the remaining Dodger and Giant schedules

By Jon Weisman

Well, that was lovely. Now what?

In late July, we talked about how difficult the San Francisco Giants’ schedule would be from August 6-September 2, when they faced 26 consecutive games against winning teams. Aside from a four-game sweep of the Nationals, it didn’t go great.

• August 6-9: at Chicago (0-4)
• August 11-12: vs. Houston (1-1)
• August 13-16: vs. Washington (4-0)
• August 17-19: at St. Louis (1-2)
• August 20-23: at Pittsburgh (1-3)
• August 25-27: vs. Chicago (2-1)
• August 28-30: vs. St. Louis (1-2)
• August 31-September 2: at Los Angeles (0-3)

A three-game sweep of the Dodgers would made the defending World Series champion Giants triumphant — muddied but unbowed tug-o’-war survivors at the state fair. It would have meant a 13-13 run through the gauntlet, cutting the Dodgers’ National League West lead to 1/2 game.

Instead, San Francisco was dragged to a 10-16 crumble through the 26 games, sliding 6 1/2 games behind Los Angeles.

But today’s a new day, September practically a new month, and the Giants do have much easier possibilities for feats of strength in their remaining 29 games — 25 of which are against sub-.500 teams.

Let’s look at the final 32 days of the regular season. Of the Giants’ 29 remaining games, 18 are identical with those of the Dodgers:

• six games vs. Colorado (three at home)
• six games vs. Arizona (three at home)
• six games vs. San Diego (three at home)

Here’s where the differences are:

• Each team has three games on the road against an American League West team. San Francisco plays the 58-76 A’s, while Los Angeles plays the 67-66 Angels.
• Each team hosts three games against a National League Central team. San Francisco plays the 55-77 Reds, while Los Angeles plays the 79-52 Pirates.
• The Giants have a fourth road game at 54-78 Colorado, while the Dodgers have a fourth home game against 65-69 Arizona.
• The Dodgers have a fourth road game at 64-69 San Diego, while the Giants have an off day.
• The 69-64 Giants are home for four games against the 75-57 Dodgers (September 28-October 1).

Of those 11 different remaining games on the schedule, the Giants would appear to have an advantage in at least six of them, plus home-field advantage in the big four and an extra day of rest.

Winning eight consecutive games in which they’ve had a hit — the last five against playoff contenders — the Dodgers boosted their NL West lead from 1 1/2 games to 6 1/2 games. That advantage should be their shield, that assertion of strength their confidence, in taking on the challenging stretch run of the 2015 regular season.