Colorado Rockies opponent insider preview: San Francisco Giants

RoxPile: Will the bullpen be better than advertised?

DS: This is something a little less sure of. Sam Dyson was really good when he came over last year, but has struggled in spring until recently. Mark Melancon looks to be not 100% yet. So I think to start, the bullpen might be a small concern until they just get themselves right. But on paper, Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, Sam Dyson, Cory Gearrin, Will Smith (when healthy), Hunter Strickland, and Derek Holland should be a much better bullpen than what they’ve employed the past two seasons.

Rox Pile: What’s your predicted record this season and do the Giants make the postseason?

DS: My projected record from them this year is 85-77. I’m not sure this team is going to be good enough to win 90+ games, but they’re miles better this year than they were last year. They have a chip on their shoulder and a much improved roster. With the roster’s track record, the Giants aren’t the team you want to have with a chip on their shoulder.

Next: Our insider preview of the Los Angeles Dodgers

The question of the postseason mainly would lay with what the other teams around the NL do. There are enough good teams that I think the win totals would be low/spread out enough for the Giants to get in despite less than 90 wins. I think a few teams will regress, and the NL East is virtually a one horse race. With some true punching bags at the bottom of each division, the Giants should be able to get enough wins to make the playoffs as a Wild Card.