As a devoted San Francisco Giants fan, I want nothing more for my team but to see them achieve another World Series win. However, it is realistic to say that the Giants’ pitching staff will need to step up its game in order to keep their first place slot in the NL West division.

As of now, starting pitcher Tim Lincecum holds an earned run average of 9.90 and Ryan Vogelsong has an ERA of 8.00, the lowest of the Bay Area team. Matt Cain struggled in his first few starts of the season as well, holding a 0-1 record and a 5.73 ERA.

The lowest ERA belongs to starter Tim Hudson, who currently leads the pitching staff with a 2-0 record. Madison Bumgarner also places at the top of the standings with a 1-0 season record and a 1.74 ERA.

Pitching is not the only area the Giants need to work on. Defense as a whole needs to pick up its feet. Too many times have I seen the opposing team hit the ball right down the middle with the Giants failing to pick up a grounder and get an out at first base.  That’s how they ended up losing the last home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks: too many consecutive defensive mistakes.

Though defensive strategy is currently down, the Giants’ offense is fairly strong, and has been a major reason why the Giants have stayed on the top of the NL West standings.

First baseman Brandon Belt is on top with five homeruns and nine runs batted in this season, while catcher Buster Posey has scored three homeruns and seven RBIs.

Other major hitters include leftfielder Michael Morse, centerfielder Angel Pagan and shortstop Brandon Crawford.

The beginning of a season is always a tough time to start making predictions about what will happen months from now. With that in mind, looking at offensive and defensive patterns can help determine who will move up the ladder this season. The question is: will it be the Giants?