Giants at Diamondbacks
The San Francisco Giants begin a pivotal nine-game road trip Thursday when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a four-game set. San Francisco needs to have a solid excursion as it sits a game below .500 and 4 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League's second wild-card spot.
Arizona is 3 1/2 games behind the Cardinals and suffered a big blow when Colorado's Nolan Arenado hit a game-winning two-homer Wednesday to hand the Diamondbacks their third loss in the past five games. "This is a tough game to absorb," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said afterward as his team committed four errors but pushed a run across in the top of the ninth prior to Arenado's blast. The Giants dug themselves a 6-0 hole in Wednesday's 9-5 setback against the Oakland Athletics, a contest that was only its second loss in the past six games. Mike Yastrzemski hit a three-run homer and has gone deep four times in his last 11 appearances.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Dereck Rodriguez (4-6, 5.32 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Alex Young (4-2, 3.32)
Rodriguez will be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento prior to the contest to make his 11th big league start of the season. The 27-year-old was roughed up in his last major league outing when he gave up seven runs (four earned) and eight hits over three innings in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Rodriguez has a 9.00 ERA in four relief appearances against Arizona this season and is 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA in six appearances (two starts).
Young struggled in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last turn as he gave up four runs and five hits while lasting 3 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old has dropped his last two outings after winning his first four decisions. Young made his major league debut against the Giants on June 27 when he gave up one run and three hits over five innings in a 5-1 triumph.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks LF David Peralta (neck) hopes to return to the starting lineup after entering Wednesday's game in the seventh and later hitting a single.
2. The Giants placed INF Pablo Sandoval (elbow) on the 10-day injured list and activated OF Alex Dickerson (oblique) who had an RBI groundout as a pinch hitter Wednesday.
3. Arizona LHP Robbie Ray (lower back spasms) departed Wednesday's game at the top of the third inning and it isn't yet known if he will require a stint on the IL.