SAN DIEGO -- Time is of the essence for the San Francisco Giants.
They are 6 1/2 games off the pace in the National League West with a third of the season to go. They also have two other teams standing between them and the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants won Sunday to snap a four-game losing streak, but they are 3-8 in the last 11 games to fall below .500 and lose three games to the division leaders.
Clearly, the Giants need something to get them back on track. And the schedule makers might have come up with the perfect springboard.