Breaking down the Nationals-Giants NL Division Series

3 reasons Washington could win

1. The best rotation in baseball. From top to bottom, the Nationals have the best five starters, although they’ll only use four in this round. Each of those four had an ERA under 3.60: Doug Fister (2.41), Jordan Zimmermann (2.66), Stephen Strasburg (3.14) and Gio Gonzalez (3.57). Strasburg will start game one.

2. Offense is clicking, too. The Nationals were second in the NL in runs scored since the All-Star break. Adam LaRoche led Washington in home runs (26) and RBIs (92). Six players hit double-digit home runs.

3. They’re motivated. The Nationals were upset by the Cardinals in the 2012 playoffs and many of those players are back for another go-round.

3 reasons San Francisco could win

1. A hot pitcher. Jake Peavy (2.17 ERA) was a fantastic pickup for the Giants, who seemed doomed when Matt Cain was lost for the season in August. Peavy and Madison Bumgarner probably will need to combine for three wins in the series.

2. Offense is capable. The Giants were fifth in runs scored since the break. Buster Posey hit 22 homers with 89 RBIs, and he is the main engine of the offense.

3. Experience. San Francisco has won two World Series titles since 2010. They may not appear as strong on paper as the Nationals, but if intangibles matter here they’re in the Giants’ favor.

Things to know

▪ San Francisco has won seven straight elimination playoff games.

▪ Washington was 74-11 when scoring four or more runs in a game.

▪ The Giants went 2-5 against Washington this season, getting outscored 41-30.

▪ Nationals catchers threw out a league-best 62.5 percent of would-be base stealers.

▪ San Francisco finished the regular season by winning 19 of their last 31 games.

Schedule

▪ Friday: San Francisco (Peavy, 6-4) at Washington (Strasburg, 14-11) 2:07 p.m., Fox Sports

▪ Saturday: San Francisco (Hudson, 9-13) at Washington Zimmermann, 14-5), 4:37 p.m., Fox Sports

▪ Monday: Washington (Fister, 16-6) at San Francisco (Bumgarner, 18-10), TBD, MLB Network

▪  *Tuesday: Washington at San Francisco, TBD, Fox Sports

▪  *Thursday: San Francisco at Washington, TBD, Fox Sports

* if necessary

This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Breaking down the Nationals-Giants NL Division Series."