By Jeremy Kahn

With the National League Championship Series within reach, the San Francisco Giants will send their ace to the mound.

Madison Bumgarner, who at just the age of 24 is looking for what could be his third World Series ring in his career.

Bumgarner, who joined the Giants during the 2009 season helped lead the Giants to their first World Series championship since 1954 when he won the pivotal Game Four of the 2010 World Series against the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark of Arlington.

After the Giants returned to the World Series in 2012, where they faced the Detroit Tigers, Bumgarner went seven innings, allowing just two hits and the Giants won Game Two by the final of 2-0.

Bumgarner’s opponent that night was current Washington Nationals pitcher Doug Fister, who as fate would have it stands in the Giants way of advancing to the NLCS for the third time in the last five years.

If the Giants do advance to the NLCS, it could be a rematch of the 2012 NLCS, as they could face the St. Louis Cardinals or they could face their longtime rivals in the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team they have never faced in the postseason.