• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lincecum, Giants takes on Rockies in series opener

Sep 23, 2008 - 1:23 PM Colorado (71-85) at San Francisco (70-86) 10:15 p.m. EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- There will be at least one player on the field with something to gain when the San Francisco Giants take on the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night.

With both teams out of playoff contention, all eyes will be on San Francisco starter Tim Lincecum, who is among the front-runners for the National League Cy Young Award.

Lincecum (17-4, 2.46) leads the NL in ERA (2.46) and strikeouts (243) and will look to capture a victory in his fifth straight home start.

The 24-year-old ace had his six-game overall winning streak snapped in his last start. The righthander allowed three runs and seven hits over eight innings, but came out on the short end of a 3-2 decision against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 18.

With nothing but next year to look forward to, Lincecum will make two more starts in the last week of the season despite ranking third in the NL with 215 2/3 innings pitched. Teammate Matt Cain ranks sixth in the league in innings pitched with 210 2/3.

Colorado counters with Ubaldo Jimenez (11-12, 4.12), who has had amazing success when facing his division rivals this season. The righthander has posted a 0.93 ERA in three starts against the Giants, but has not figured in any of the decisions.

Jimenez, who is also 24, is coming off a quality outing in his last start. He allowed two runs, three hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out nine in a 10-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.