When the San Francisco Giants topped the Atlanta Braves 3-2 last night, they earned their first trip to the NLCS since 2002.
Waiting for them, of course, is the Philadelphia Phillies–the two-time defending champions of the National League.
The Phillies, based on both their success the last few years and the strength of their position players, are considered the favorites by most baseball fans and pundits. But what of those Giants, a franchise that has not yet won a World Series since moving to the Bay?
Do they have a chance?
What are five ways that the Giants can win this series?
First, let’s take a brief look at how the teams match up.