SAN FRANCISCO -- Jeff Samardzija is going to prepare as if he might pitch a potential wild-card playoff game Monday and stay ready in case he might be needed sooner if San Franciscos season is on the line.The Giants wasted Samardzijas latest stellar start with a chance to grab momentum after a big offensive outburst a night earlier, yet instead the playoff-hopeful Giants ended up with a costly dud in a 2-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.As long as they know Im ready, thats all that counts, Samardzija said. ... This is the time of year, man, this feels great to be out there pitching when the weather turns a little bit and the season comes to an end. I always love being able to see the finish line and it always allows me to go a little harder. I enjoy staring down the tube when its about to be done and just let it all hang out. Hopefully we get a chance to do that here a handful more times.The bats had better be ready the rest of the way, too.Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood (12-9) struck out nine in eight innings and outdueled Samardzija (12-11), shutting down San Francisco a day after the Giants pounded 19 hits in a 12-3 win.San Francisco dropped 1 1/2 games behind the Mets for the top wild card and remained a game up on St. Louis for the second spot after the Cardinals lost to Cincinnati.In a game that began with a hovering mist above the field on a cool Bay Area night -- with first-pitch temperature 55 degrees -- Samardzija struck out a season-high 11 in six-plus innings of his final regular season start. He allowed seven hits and two runs, walking one.Pinch-hitter Kelby Tomlinson doubled leading off the ninth against Rockies closer Boone Logan, who then allowed Brandon Belts two-out infield single. Adam Ottavino retired Buster Posey on a groundout to third to end it for his sixth save.The Giants lone runner to reach second before the ninth was Angel Pagan on a wild pitch in the second. What a contrast from San Franciscos free-swinging performance Tuesday, when it produced 10 extra-base hits with three home runs, four triples and three doubles.Two different teams, manager Bruce Bochy said of his club from one night to the next. Chatwoods been tough on us. He was good tonight. We just couldnt figure him out. We had a runner on second base one time through eight innings. Thats going to work. We pitched well, we played well, this offense couldnt get it going, couldnt figure him out.Twice baserunners were caught stealing and the Giants grounded into two double plays. They know they have serious work to do in order to keep alive a streak of World Series championships in even years this decade: 2010, 12 and 14.Samardzija has struck out nine or more in each of his past three starts against the Rockies. With runners on first and third and one out in the sixth, Samardzija induced an inning-ending double play by Nolan Arenado.Chatwood dazzled -- and that has been the norm for him away from Coors Field. He allowed three hits and walked two as the Rockies snapped an eight-game road losing streak.He is 8-1 with a majors-best 1.69 ERA in 13 road starts, and he is 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA in six career outings at AT&T Park. Chatwoods road ERA is the lowest in franchise history for pitchers with at least 80 innings.After allowing Conor Gillaspies leadoff single in the third, Chatwood retired the next 11 batters in order before Belt drew a leadoff walk in the seventh.He can put the ball on the ground with the best of them. He got two huge double plays. To shut that team down for eight innings, that was impressive, manager Walt Weiss said.Arenado and Gerardo Parra hit RBI singles for the Rockies.In Thursday nights series finale, San Francisco will try to win just its second home series since the All-Star break and fourth series overall in 22 over the second half.San Francisco was shut out for the 13th time, nine coming after the All-Star break.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: NL batting leader DJ LeMahieu, hitting .349, had the night off as Weiss went with Daniel Descalso. Weiss will pick his moments when to use LeMahieu over the final week.Giants: While INF Eduardo Nunez still hopes to return from a hamstring injury this weekend for the season-ending series against the NL West champion Dodgers, Bochy considers it questionable. Nunez has a mild right hamstring pull. ... RHP Johnny Cuetos strained left groin felt fine a day after his bullpen session and he is set to start Thursdays series finale.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jon Gray (10-9, 4.45 ERA) has struck out 26 batters his past two starts, most in a two-game span in club history.Giants: Cueto (17-5, 2.79) is 2-0 with a 0.77 ERA in three starts against the Rockies this season. Cheap Jerseys Online . MORITZ, Switzerland -- Fog prevented downhill racers from getting their Olympic dress rehearsal. Cheap Jerseys . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. http://www.jerseyschinanflwholesale.com/ . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Wholesale Jerseys . The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit. Cheap NFL Jerseys . Pert has formerly spent time as an assistant coach with Cardiff City, Coventry City, and Bahrain mens national team. "Martyn is a highly-respected coach with experience at the top levels in England," said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson.The Premier League title race approaches a potentially defining weekend, and Sky Sports Paul Merson looks ahead to the mouth-watering round of fixtures which sees the current top four face off on Super Sunday. Up first, leaders Leicester travel to the Emirates Stadium looking to continue their remarkable rise against an Arsenal side hoping to keep their hopes of a first title in 12 years alive.Aston Villa then look to boost their unlikely bid for survival against Liverpool before the title race takes centre stage once again as second-placed Spurs travel to Manchester City. Last weeks predictions Result Merses prediction Man City 1-3 Leicester 3-1 Aston Villa 2-0 Norwich 1-1 Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland 2-1 Newcastle 1-0 West Brom 2-1 Stoke 0-3 Everton 2-2 Swansea 1-1 Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham 1-0 Watford 3-1 Soton 1-0 West Ham 2-2 Bmouth 0-2 Arsenal 2-2 Chelsea 1-1 Man Utd 3-2 It proved to be another tough round of predictions last time out with the Magic Man managing just one correct score and two correct results. Scroll on to see how who Merson is tipping this week…Arsenal v Leicester - 12pm, Super Sunday Can Leicester slaughter Arsenal as they did Man City last weekend? Arsenal have to win this game for me but they are set up perfectly for Leicester, exactly the same as Man City were last week. Arsenal will have loads of the ball and then bang, Leicester will hit them on the counter. Leicester absolutely slaughtered City so Arsenal have got to be careful. They are nowhere near as good a team as Arsenal but they play a certain way which can majorly hurt them. This game will come down to how the first 25 minutes pans out. If Arsenal score early I fancy them to run away with it but if they dont I fancy Leicester. Arsenal will continue to bomb forward for a goal and that plays right into the hands of the leagues best counter attacking side. However, having said that, Arsenals class should prevail, but it wouldnt shock me one iota if Leicester won.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)Man City v Tottenham - 4.15pm, Super Sunday The Magic Man tips Harry Kane to open to scoring at the Etihad Stadium If Im being honest, I dont see Spurs winning this game. They havent got pace on the counter like Leicester have so Im unsure how theyll hurt Man City. I dont see them losing the game though, theyll get a draw which is still a great result ahead of a favourable home game against Palace next week. Spurs have conceded 10 goals in their last two trips to the Etihad but this Tottenham team is a completely different animal under Mauricio Pochettino, this is one of the best sides theyve had in years. Man City will no doubt cause Spurs problems too but I dont see either side running away with a game which is relatively well matched.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)Aston Villa v Liverpool - 2.05pm, Super Sunday Villa backed to catch Liverpool off guard on Super Sunday This game is all about timing and this is perfect time for Aston Villa to be facing Liverpool. Jurgen Klopps team have just been beaten over 120 minutes in the FA Cup and theyve got the Europa League coming up on Thursday - for me their only chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Liverpool have to put all their eggs into one basket with the Europa League so I see Villa winning on Sunday. If Villa can win this game, and reduce the gap to five or six points, then suddenly theyre back in with a slim chance of staying up. Liverpool have been poor when defending set plays and that is where Villa look a threat, I fancy Joleon Lescott to bag the winner.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)Chelsea v Newcastle - 5.30pm, Saturday Night Football Chelsea tipped to continue their revival under Hiddink against Newcastle Newcastle played really last week agaiinst West Brom and could have won by four or five.dddddddddddd But, in the end, it was only 1-0 and West Brom had a chance to equalise late on, so its worrying they didnt put the game to bed. Chelsea are a different side now the players want to have a go, they have really picked up under Guus Hiddink. Ive got to take Newcastles dismal showing at Everton last week into consideration though, so Im backing Chelsea here. Newcastles away form has a greater influence than their impressive home performances.PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)Sunderland v Man Utd - 12.45pm, Saturday Merson tips Wayne Rooney to fire United to victory at the Stadium of Light Manchester United have turned the corner, Ive been impressed. They looked really good at Chelsea and thoroughly deserved a draw at least. Sunderland, meanwhile, will have felt they did well against Man City, despite losing, and then they got a lucky draw at Liverpool if Im being honest. We will have to see whether the speculation surrounding Louis van Gaals future affects United but they seem to have turned the corner and I expect them to win at the Stadium of Light.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)Bournemouth v Stoke - 3pm, Saturday Bournemouth will be hoping to convert their impressive displays into victory when Stoke visit the Vitality Ive watched Stoke a couple of times recently and theyve gone! Theyve lost their last two games 3-0, teams at the bottom of League Two dont even do that - that is some going. I thought Bournemouth showed Arsenal too much respect in the first half on Sunday but they did improve after the break. I fancy them to win here as long as they put in a similar display as they did against the Gunners.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Most popular Super 6 prediction: 2-1) Play Super 6! Think you can do better than Merse? Take him on at Super 6 for free here. Crystal Palace v Watford - 3pm, Saturday Can Palace end an eight-game wait for a Premier League victory? Im covering this game for Soccer Saturday and I fancy there to be goals. Despite drawing at Swansea last time out, Palace have got to start winning games to stop the rot. Neither side are in particularly good form if Im being honest and theyre both probably cup teams now, being a win or two away from all-but securing their Premier League status for next season. Watfords front two will be exciting as always and Palace always have a go wherever they play so I predict a Desmond.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Most popular Super 6 prediction: 1-1)Everton v West Brom - 3pm, Saturday Outstanding Everton will have too much for a West Brom side looking over their shoulders This is one of my bankers of the weekend. West Brom played 120 minutes at Peterborough where they struggled in fairness. Tony Pulis has got to decide whether to play Saido Berahino or not, they need to start scoring goals and he is their only viable option. Albion need results fast to avoid being further sucked into a fight for survival. Take on Merse Think you know better than Merse? Take him on at Super 6 for the chance to win ￡250,000 here. Everton, meanwhile, have won their last three games 3-0, theyve tightened things up at the back and going forward they are very, very good. Stoke havent received a hiding at home like the one Everton dished out in many a day, they were unbelievable and it would have been six or seven had it not been for Jack Butland. I fancy Everton to make it four 3-0 wins on the spinPAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Most popular Super 6 prediction: 2-0)Norwich v West Ham - 3pm, Saturday Will other competitions hinder West Hams chances at Norwich? This game is another prime example of how the timing of football matches can affect the outcome. Norwich will have looked at the fixtures and probably wouldnt have fancied themselves against a West Ham side that has been flying this season.However, when you consider the Hammers played 120 minutes in midweek, have an eye on the next round of the cup and probably cant qualify for the top four, then this the best time ever to play them. West Ham have got a great chance to win the FA Cup and have bigger fish to fry so I fancy Norwich to nick a vital win.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Most popular Super 6 prediction: 1-2)Swansea v Southampton - 3pm, Saturday Can Southampton keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet? Southampton have really turned the corner. For Fraser Forster to do what hes done and keep five clean sheets is some going in a league where so many chances are created. You have to ride your luck to keep clean sheets in this league but take nothing away from Southampton - their dogged display against West Ham with 10 men was brilliant. I dont see Swansea scoring if Im being honest, theyve been so uncertain at the back I just see Saints winning.PAUL PREDICTS: 0-1 (Most popular Super 6 prediction: 1-2)Think you know better than Merse? Take him on at Super 6 for the chance to win £250,000! Also See: Premier League build-up LIVE! Premier League questions Table Live on Sky Get Sky Sports ' ' '