4:10 pm
August 18

Giants @ Diamondbacks

Who will WIN this matchup?

San Francisco Giants (63-61)

@ Arizona Diamondbacks (61-63)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Bumgarner (SF): 8-7; 3.63 ERA

Kelly (ARI) 8-12; 4.75 ERA

 

Last 10 Games Played:

San Francisco Giants: 7-3

Arizona Diamondbacks: 4-6

 

Current odds:

San Francisco Giants: (-105)

Arizona Diamondbacks: (-105)

 

• Long known as a streaky hitter, Brandon Belt appears primed for another hot stretch. Belt looks to build on his recent success when the San Francisco Giants aim for a sweep of their four-game series on Sunday against the host Arizona Diamondbacks, who have dropped four in a row. Kevin Pillar went 5-for-5 with an RBI and three runs in Saturday’s 11-6 victory and Mike Yastrzemski recorded three hits from the leadoff spot, but both were overshadowed by Belt, who has struggled most of the year but hit his second career grand slam and drove in six runs on Saturday. “It was good to see him have a good day,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “It really was. It’s been tough sledding for him, but we need him. He’s got to remember who he is.”

• While the Giants have won six of their last eight to climb within 2 1/2 games of the second National League wild-card spot, Arizona has fallen 4 1/2 games back in the race. Wilmer Flores went 4-for-5 with an RBI double in Saturday’s loss and is hitting .377 with three homers in 23 games since returning from the injured list in late July.

• Bumgarner recorded nine strikeouts over seven innings in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Oakland and has allowed just one run over 14 frames in his last two starts. The four-time All-Star has posted a 2.61 ERA over his last 10 outings, with the Giants winning nine of those contests. Bumgarner is 12-11 with a 2.54 ERA in 35 career games (34 starts) versus Arizona – including 8-3 with a 2.97 mark in 19 contests (18 starts) at Chase Field.

• Kelly notched the victory against Colorado on Monday despite giving up six runs and nine hits over five innings. The 30-year-old rookie has yielded 25 earned runs and served up nine homers over 31 1/3 frames in six starts since the All-Star break. Buster Posey has recorded four hits in six at-bats against Kelly, who tossed five innings in a loss to San Francisco on June 28 and is 1-1 with a 2.76 ERA in three starts versus the club.

• Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte was scratched from the starting lineup on Saturday due to lower-back tightness but is expected to be available for the series finale.

• The Giants optioned OF Joey Rickard to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for RHP Logan Webb, who allowed one run over five innings in his major-league debut on Saturday.

• Arizona recalled Joel Payamps from Triple-A Reno and optioned fellow RHP Jon Duplantier to the Aces.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
San Francisco Giants