Pirates at Giants
Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants recorded a total of one run over the weekend, giving their offenses very little momentum entering the opener of a four-game series in San Francisco on Monday. After losing 10-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, the Pirates managed five hits in a 2-0 setback Sunday.
Pittsburgh averaged nearly eight runs a game during a 6-2 stretch before being shut down by the Cardinals' staff over the past two games. The Giants eked out a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday before they were blanked 5-0 in the finale of that three-game set Sunday. All four of San Francisco's hits were singles and its lineup drew just one walk while striking out 11 times. Pirates right-hander Trevor Williams and Giants lefty Madison Bumgarner will try to keep the offenses in check when the square off in Monday's opener.
TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (7-6, 5.16 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (9-8, 3.81)
Williams posted his third consecutive quality start by allowing two earned runs in six innings of Pittsburgh's 6-5 win over Miami on Wednesday. He has 12 strikeouts against two walks while allowing just one home run during the solid three-start stretch. The 27-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three career starts against the Giants and has allowed only one run in 13 innings at San Francisco.
Bumgarner is trying for the second straight start to reach double digits in wins for the first time since 2016, giving up six runs over five innings at St. Louis in his first attempt Wednesday. He has yielded two runs and seven hits over 21 innings in his last three home starts. Bumgarner picked up a loss at Pittsburgh on April 19 after throwing six innings of four-run ball and owns a 3.22 ERA in eight career matchups.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates CF Starling Marte suffered a sprained wrist in Sunday's game and is expected to miss a couple of days.
2. Giants 3B Evan Longoria was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Sunday and is 1-for-12 over his last four games.
3. San Francisco RHP Johnny Cueto will make his return from Tommy John surgery and start Tuesday, his first action since July 28, 2018.