Diamondbacks at Giants
The San Francisco Giants won’t have anyone like Cubs phenom Kris Bryant joining them for Friday’s matchup against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, but third baseman Casey McGehee could return to the starting lineup after being held to one plate appearance in the last five games due to a bruised knee. The Giants dropped their seventh straight game Thursday as Arizona claimed the series opener 7-6 in 12 innings.
Arizona evened its record at 5-5 thanks in part to another strong game from center fielder Ender Inciarte, who has emerged from a crowded outfield by hitting .405 in the leadoff spot. “He’s going to be in there most every day now,” manager Chip Hale told reporters. “The way he’s played, he’s forced his way in there.” Giants manager Bruce Bochy is looking for someone like Inciarte to spark his lineup, which has gone 8-for-59 with runners in scoring positions over the last eight games. First baseman Brandon Belt is one of several Giants off to a dismal start with two hits in his first 23 at-bats.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (0-2, 6.52 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (0-1, 9.00)
Collmenter has allowed 19 hits in 9 2/3 innings and failed to pitch past the fifth inning in his first two starts. “I’ve got to make better pitches,” he told reporters. “Even the ones that aren’t getting a lot of the bat, they are getting enough of it so I have to put them in a better location.” The 29-year-old is 5-3 with 3.50 ERA in 19 career games (eight starts) against San Francisco, but allowed four earned runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings to the Giants on April 6.
Peavy missed his first scheduled start of the season due to back soreness and was belted for four runs in four frames against San Diego on Sunday. The 33-year-old is set to make his first home start of the season at AT&T Park, where he posted a 1.64 ERA in six starts last season after being acquired from Boston in late July. Peavy is 16-12 with a 4.35 ERA in 32 career starts against Arizona, including 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants have lost seven in a row for the first time since June 26-July 2, 2010.
2. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt is 3-for-9 with two home runs and five RBI in his last two games.
3. San Francisco has dropped its first four home games after going 13-3 in its final 16 games at AT&T Park last season.