Game 2 Preview: Rangers Hope to Steal One in SF

"It isn't a series until someone loses at home." An often used quote by sport writers, players, coaches, management, and fans. And that is exactly what the Texas Rangers are trying to do to the San Francisco Giants tonight.

The Rangers turn to C.J. Wilson to stop the bleeding that the Giants caused on Cliff Lee and the rest of the Bullpen. Wilson is often called the poor man's Lee. He can be outstanding as he showed in Game 1 of the ALCS (going 7 innings, giving up 3 earned runs), but he can also be erratic as shown by leading the American League in walks. To Giants fans, it sounds like Wilson is the Johnathan Sanchez of the Rangers. Which Wilson will show up tonight? The Giants will need to be selective with their pitches against Wilson, but their mantra is a free-swinging club.

The Giants counter with Matt Cain. This was the lone move manager Bruce Bochy made, switching starts between Sanchez and Cain. On paper, the move makes sense. Sanchez was erratic in his Game 6 start of the NLCS against the Phillies. Cain is a flyball pitcher and AT&T Park is much kinder to flyball pitchers than Rangers Ballpark in Arlington where flyballs soar.

Cain has been outstanding in the Postseason thus far, not giving up a run. But the Rangers hitters will be looking to crush that fastball. Cain needs to mix his pitches well in order to be successful.

Both teams proved last night that they can hit. The Rangers need Elvis Andrus to get on base so Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, and Vladimir Guerrero can drive him in. In the other dugout, the Giants need Freddy Sanchez, Cody Ross, and Juan Uribe to continue their hot streak hoping that it'll be contagious with others like Pat Burrell and Andres Torres.

With the way last nights game turned out, there is no way to predict how tonight will go. That's why the game isn't played on paper. This is the Postseason people...