Giants at Padres
The San Francisco Giants appeared left for dead in the playoff chase at the end of last month, but they have turned things around by winning 16 of 20 in July, a stretch that began with a three-game sweep in San Diego. San Francisco looks to continue its drive for a wild-card spot when it visits the Padres in the opener of a three-game set on Friday night.
The red-hot tear has muddled the trade deadline plans of the Giants, who have won five straight in the series and piled up 30 runs in the sweep at the start of the month. “Obviously, we know what’s being said," said catcher Stephen Vogt, who collected three hits in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. "We know what’s being talked about. But we can’t control any of that. What we can control is going out every day, trying to win. That’s what we’re trying to do." San Diego is trying to stay within striking distance of the second wild card after losing nine of 12 coming out of the All-Star break. The Padres wrapped up a 3-6 road trip with a 4-0 loss at the New York Mets on Thursday and must turn things around at Petco Park, where they have dropped seven games in a row.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (7-8, 4.08 ERA) vs. Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (7-5, 4.27)
Samardzija yielded two homers in an 11-4 loss to the Mets last time out, giving up four runs and six hits over five innings to snap a three-start winning streak. He allowed a combined four runs over his previous three turns, including a season-high eight innings of two-run ball to beat the Padres on July 1. Manny Machado is 5-for-13 with a pair of homers off Samardzija, who has more wins (nine) against San Diego than any other opponent and is 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA at Petco.
Lucchesi is coming off his worst start since he was shelled for seven runs by San Francisco on April 9, lasting 4 1/3 innings and giving up six runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings at the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. That halted a stretch of 12 consecutive starts with at least five innings pitched for the 26-year-old, who gave up three runs (two earned) over six frames in a loss at San Francisco on June 12. Buster Posey has one hit in eight at-bats against Lucchesi.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants SS Donovan Solano has hit safely in nine of 10 overall and was 6-for-14 in the last series in San Diego.
2. Machado has multiple hits in six of his last 12 games overall but is only 5-for-37 versus the Giants in 2019.
3. Giants 1B Brandon Belt was 7-for-14 at San Diego earlier this month but is 2-for-14 over his last four contests.