Reds at Giants
After recording consecutive shutout wins for the first time since 2016, the Cincinnati Reds turn to Anthony DeSclafani on Saturday when they continue their three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants. Luis Castillo struck out 11 batters over six scoreless innings in Friday’s 7-0 victory as Cincinnati improved to 2-2 on its six-game road trip.
Yasiel Puig and Nick Senzel each drove in two runs in Friday’s win, but six-time All-Star first baseman Joey Votto went 0-for-2 with two walks and is batting .206 after going hitless in his last 12 at-bats. “I’m so annoyed with how I’ve performed from a statistical point of view,” Votto told reporters. “Every single part of my game needs to get better, for sure. But I feel like I’m headed in the right direction.” San Francisco has lost three of its last four but may have found a new hitter for the top of the order in catcher Stephen Vogt, who batted second Friday and went 3-for-4 with a walk. First baseman Brandon Belt has four hits in his last 21 at-bats and is listed as day-to-day after leaving Friday’s contest because of right knee inflammation.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 3.16)
DeSclafani has pitched well over his last four starts, going 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 23 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old native of New Jersey missed much of the past two seasons because of injury but has gone 9-9 with a 4.62 ERA in his last 28 starts. Belt is 5-for-7 with a home run against DeSclafani, who is 2-1 with a 6.23 ERA in four career starts versus San Francisco - including a 12-4 victory Monday.
After tossing five scoreless innings in his previous start, Samardzija allowed four runs over five innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Sunday. The former Notre Dame wide receiver allowed three home runs in the first inning but settled in and retired his last 13 batters. Samardzija owns a 3-5 record with a 4.17 ERA in 27 career games (13 starts) versus the Reds while holding Votto to nine hits in 39 at-bats with 11 strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds have won 17 of their last 27 games at Oracle Park.
2. Giants OF Kevin Pillar had started 31 straight games before appearing as a pinch-hitter Friday.
3. Cincinnati OF Jesse Winker returned Friday after missing one game with a tight left quad and went hitless in five at-bats.