Giants at Padres
The San Diego Padres look to avoid their fifth consecutive series loss on Sunday, when they face the visiting San Francisco Giants in the rubber match of their three-game set. Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. belted a two-run homer in Saturday’s 5-1 victory as San Diego snapped its eight-game home losing streak.
Greg Garcia added a two-run single for the Padres, who won for just the fourth time in 14 games since the All-Star break and ended a six-game losing streak to the Giants. Wil Myers has seen his playing time cut dramatically in recent weeks and entered Saturday’s contest hitless in his last 10 at-bats before recording two doubles and an RBI. The Giants have climbed back into the National League wild-card race by going 17-5 this month but were held to five hits in Saturday’s loss and have scored a total of four runs over their last three games. Brandon Belt went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts from the leadoff spot and has two hits in his last 24 at-bats.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-7, 3.66 ERA) vs. Padres LH Adrian Morejon (0-0, 2.70)
The Giants were widely expected to deal Bumgarner ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, but their hot streak has them reconsidering those plans. The 29-year-old pitched well again on Tuesday, allowing three runs over seven frames in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. Eric Hosmer is hitless in 12 at-bats against Bumgarner, who is 11-10 with a 3.41 ERA in 34 career games (33 starts) versus San Diego – including 4-7 with a 3.87 mark in 17 contests (16 starts) at Petco Park.
Morejon is expected to make his second career start after throwing one scoreless inning of relief against the New York Mets on Thursday. At 20 years and 144 days, he became the youngest Cuban to debut in the majors since 1967 when he pitched 2 1/3 frames against the Cubs on July 21. The highly touted Morejon likely will pitch no more than three innings on Sunday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres OF Franmil Reyes could return to the starting lineup Sunday after being rested for the last two games.
2. The Giants designated LHP Ty Blach for assignment.
3. San Diego recalled Robbie Erlin from Triple-A El Paso and optioned fellow LHP Logan Allen to the Chihuahuas.