Along with the Game 2 of the ALCS, Saturday also is when Game 1 of the National League Championship Series gets underway at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies will be hosting the Giants for the first game of the 2010 NLCS. The Phillies will be defending their NL pennant and you can bet that this best of 7 games will be dominated by pitching and more pitching.

The Giants will have 26-year-old right-hander Tim Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, as starting pitcher. When it comes to the best pitchers in the league this is definitely one of them. Through the regular season, Lincecum was 16-10 with an earned run average of 3.43.

The Phillies will counter with 33-year-old right-handed starting pitcher Roy Halladay. Don’t let anyone fool you, Halladay is also one of the best pitchers in the league as well. Halladay was ranked third highest among all starting pitchers for overall strike percentage. Through the regular season, Halladay was 21-10 with an earned run average of 2.44. He tied with C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees for the most wins.

The Phillies haven’t been hitting as well as they would have hoped as of late. In terms of homeruns hit, the Phillies hit 166 this year on their 224 last year – not exactly the way they had hoped to bring in the postseason. Regardless, they have the pitching capabilities to take it to the end; however, so do the Giants. The Giants lack their skill at the plate, though, so it’s gonna be a tight game – or should I say 7-game series.

Bodog Sportsbook has the Phillies listed as favorites on the moneyline at -169 and the Giants as underdogs at +154. The runline favors the Phillies at -1 ½ and the Giants at +1 ½. Totals have the Phillies at Over6 +110 and the Giants Under6 -130.

BetUs Sportsbook has the Phillies at -170 moneyline favorites and the Giants underdogs at +150. The runline (or spread) favors the Phillies at -1 ½ and the Giants at +1 ½. Totals have the Phillies at Under5 ½ -105 and the Giants Over5 ½ -115.

Looking forward to Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS, the Giants decided to make a couple of changes and switched their No. 2 and No. 3 starters. Therefore, Jonathan Sanchez will meet Roy Oswalt in Game 2 and Matt Cain will face Cole Hamels for Game 3 when the NLCS will switch gears and play at AT&T Park come Tuesday.

Related News

• 2010 NLCS Game 2 – San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies October 17, 2025 8:19 p.m. ET
• 2010 NLCS Game 5 - Philadelphia Phillies @ San Francisco Giants 7:30 p.m. ET
• 2010 NLCS Game 4 – Philadelphia Phillies @ San Francisco Giants October 20, 2025 7:57 p.m. ET
• 2010 NLCS Game 6 – San Francisco Giants @ Philadelphia Phillies October 23, 2025 7:57 p.m. ET
• 2010 NLCS Game 3 – Philadelphia Phillies @ San Francisco Giants October 19, 2025 4:19 p.m. ET