Kuiper: Going 2-2 over final four games might not be enough

The Giants are clinging to the final wild card spot with just four games left in the regular season. Broadcaster Duane Kuiper believes the team will need to finish 3-1 in order to reach the playoffs.

"For those that think they'll win the next four, I don't think that'll happen," Kuiper said on KNBR 680 Thursday morning. "I think they'll go 3-1 or 2-2. And 3-1 might get you in, 2-2 might not."

Here are the expected pitching matchups in each of the Giants' remaining games:

Thursday
Rockies vs Giants
Jon Gray (10-9, 4.54) vs Johnny Cueto (17-5, 2.79)

Friday
Dodgers vs Giants
Rich Hill (3-2, 2.05) vs Madison Bumgarner (14-9, 2.71)

Saturday
Dodgers vs Giants 
Clayton Kershaw (12-3, 1.65) vs Albert Suarez (3-5, 4.29)

Sunday
Dodgers vs Giants 
Kenta Maeda (16-10, 3.28) vs Matt Moore (5-5, 4.21)

Kuiper acknowledged that the Dodgers would likely take a great deal of satisfaction in eliminating the Giants from playoff contention.

"I think there is a little of that, absolutely," Kuiper said. "I think that's all part of the rivalry."

However, the Giants should not be the Dodgers' primary focus this weekend at AT&T Park considering they will open their best-of-five NLDS against the Nationals on Oct. 7.

"I think getting ready for the playoffs is their first mindset, and that's really the way it should be," Kuiper told the radio station. "Are you going to wear out the bullpen against the Giants? Probably not. Are you going to extend your starters longer than you want? Probably not. But does that mean that (Justin) Turner and (Corey) Seager and (Chase) Utley and those guys are gonna back off? They're not going to back off. ... I can assure you that even laying down a little bit is not gonna happen. It's just not."

The wild card race is tight entering Thursday's slate of games. The Giants trail the Mets by 1.5 games for the top wild card spot and hold a one-game lead over the Cardinals for the second wild card berth. 

Here are the pitching matchups in each of the Cardinals' four remaining games:

Thursday
Reds vs Cardinals
Dan Straily (14-8, 3.74) vs Alex Reyes (4-1, 1.58)

Friday
Pirates vs Cardinals
Tyler Glasnow (0-1, 4.91) vs Carlos Martinez (15-9, 3.15)

Saturday
Pirates vs Cardinals
Chad Kuhl (5-4, 4.25) vs Jaime Garcia (10-13, 4.67)

Sunday
Pirates vs Cardinals 
Ryan Vogelsong (3-7, 5.00) vs Adam Wainwright (13-9, 4.67)

Here are the pitching matchups in each of the Mets' three remaining games:

Friday
Mets vs Phillies
Robert Gsellman (3-2, 2.56) vs Alec Asher (2-0, 1.66)

Saturday
Mets vs Phillies 
Bartolo Colon (14-8, 3.42) vs Phil Klein (0-0, 12.15)

Sunday
Mets vs Phillies 
Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60) vs Jerad Eickhoff (11-14, 3.72)

The NL Wild Card Game is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5.