Phillies at Giants
After moving into postseason contention with a 19-6 record last month, the San Francisco Giants have reverted to their sluggish early-season form over the past week. The Giants, losers of four straight and seven of their last eight, look to get on track Thursday when they open a four-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
San Francisco continues its nine-game homestand after being swept in three games by Washington and scoring four runs in the series. The team has lost each of its last three series after having won seven straight and needs more production from first baseman Brandon Belt, who was 0-for-3 in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss and has 10 hits in his last 57 at-bats over his last 15 games. Philadelphia dropped two of three against Arizona and sits two games behind Washington for the first wild card and tied with Milwaukee for the second spot. The Phillies were a combined 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position in back-to-back losses to the Diamondbacks and needed Bryce Harper’s 20th home run in the ninth inning to avoid a shutout in Wednesday’s 6-1 defeat.
TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, YouTube
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (10-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (6-7, 3.92)
Nola turned in another dominant outing Saturday, striking out 10 over seven innings of one-run ball in a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The 26-year-old native of Louisiana has not lost a decision since June 21 and owns a 4-1 record and 1.91 ERA in his past nine starts. Nola is 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco but has struggled to contain Belt, who has four hits in six at-bats.
Bumgarner looks to bounce back after allowing five runs on eight hits over five innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Saturday at Coors Field. “I couldn't throw the ball where I wanted to the whole time I was out there,” Bumgarner told reporters. “It wasn't terrible, but it wasn’t good by any means.” Jean Segura is hitless in 13 at-bats against the four-time All-Star, who last faced Philadelphia in 2017 and is 4-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 10 career starts against the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants are hitting .176 with runners in scoring position over their past 14 games.
2. Harper owns the longest current on-base streak in the majors at 21 games.
3. Giants OF Steven Duggar suffered a strained left shoulder in Wednesday’s contest and will have an MRI on Thursday.