NLCS Preview

This year's National League Championship Series (NLCS) will kick off on Saturday with the Giants and Phillies facing off in Philly for the right to play in the Fall Classic. Here's a look at how those two teams match up and who I think has the edge right now.
Both of these teams have absolutely dominant starting pitching, and, in the so-called "Year of the Pitcher," these teams fit the bill.
In game 1, Roy Halladay (PHI) will be pitching opposite Tim Lincecum (SF). This is as good as a pitching matchup can get. The man with two no-hitters this year, one of them in his last start against the Reds (Halladay), is matched up against "The Freak," who has won the last two National league Cy Young Awards. This should be a great, low-scoring game, and an amazing way to begin what should be a very hard-fought series.
Behind Halladay, the Phillies have Roy Oswalt, a mid-season acquisition who has been stellar since coming over from the Astros, and Cole Hamels. After Lincecum, the Giants have Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez (who is 2-0 against the Phils this year), and rookie Madison Bumgarner. The pitching matchups will be exceptional, with every starter from either side both solid and pretty reliable.
The offenses are where the discrepancies lie between the two. The Giants, although they have a sensational rookie catcher in Buster Posey, lack the depth to stay with Philly offensively. The Phils, on the other hand, have all kinds of depth. From Shane Victorino to Jayson Werth, the Phillies can hit, hit, hit.
Another edge the Phillies have is experience. They have made the World Series the past two years and have retained most of their starting players from those two teams. Only one regular, Placido Polanco, is new to the team this year, and he played in the 2006 World Series as a Tiger.

Between the dynamic offense and amount of playoff experience of the Phillies, this series does not phavor the Giants.

Prediction: Phillies in 6.