By Jeremy Harness

The question for the Giants is this: will they stand pat, or will they make moves in order to bolster their roster for a playoff push that has suddenly become possible.

The Giants do not seem to need any pitching help at this point, but they can use some more depth in their infield. The real question, as of a few weeks ago, was at third base, but Matt Duffy has solidified that position after taking over for the since-departed Casey McGehee.

As the trade deadline draws near, the Giants are now right in the thick of the National League West race, as they sit only 2 ½ games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and have effectively made it a two-team race at this point.

The A’s, on the other hand, are not in any race right now. It was though that they would wait to see if they can make a serious run in the first couple of weeks following the All-Star break before making a decision as to stick with the current team.

Well, apparently, general manager Billy Beane has already decided to pull the plug on the season and start yet another rebuilding process. On Thursday, the A’s sent starter Scott Kazmir to the Houston Astros for a pair of minor leaguers.

Kazmir was a hot commodity, as he sported an 0.45 ERA in the month of July, and the A’s sent him to not only an intra-division opponent, but also to one that has serious postseason aspirations this season.

The two cross-bay teams will square off in a three-game series that starts Friday at AT&T Park, and the Giants are coming off a very successful trip through the southwest that saw then sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks and take two in a three-gamer with the San Diego Padres to distance themselves from those two teams.