Padres at Giants
Manny Machado's first season with the San Diego Padres has been filled with peaks and valleys, but he appears intent on finishing on a high note. The four-time All-Star looks to continue his recent hot streak Sunday when the Padres visit the San Francisco Giants in the finale of a four-game series.
Machado had two hits in Saturday’s 4-1 victory and Wil Myers belted a pinch-hit, two-run homer off Giants closer Will Smith as the Padres bounced back from an 8-3 loss on Friday. Machado, who signed a 10-year contract with San Diego in February, batted .221 in 27 games in August but is 4-for-8 with a home run and three runs scored over his last two contests. San Francisco lost for the fourth time in its last five games and scored its only run Saturday on a first-inning blast from Austin Slater, who is batting .281 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 121 at-bats this season. Evan Longoria is 11-for-27 during his seven-game hitting streak, but Alex Dickerson has one hit in his last 14 at-bats after going 0-for-2 off the bench Saturday.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (7-8, 4.48 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (9-10, 3.38)
Lauer earned the victory Monday after giving up three runs on six hits over six frames against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 24-year-old native of Ohio owns a 3.22 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) at home this season compared to a 5.93 mark in 12 outings away from Petco Park. Lauer is 2-0 with a 3.68 ERA in six career games (five starts) versus San Francisco while limiting Brandon Belt to one hit in 11 at-bats.
Samardzija is switching rotation spots with Tyler Beede, who will get the nod in Monday’s series opener against St. Louis. The 34-year-old native of Indiana received a no-decision Tuesday after holding Arizona to one run on three hits over five innings. Machado is 5-for-16 with two homers against Samardzija, who is 9-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 20 career games (18 starts) versus San Diego - including 1-0 with a 1.42 mark in three outings this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco RHP Reyes Moronta left Saturday’s game with an acute right shoulder strain and will be re-evaluated Sunday.
2. San Diego’s bullpen has not allowed more than one home run in a game since July 1 in San Francisco, a span of 51 contests.
3. Giants RHP Johnny Cueto tossed six shutout innings in a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday and could rejoin the rotation next week.