Marlins at Giants
Michael Morse returns to San Francisco on Thursday as the Miami Marlins begin a four-game series against the Giants, but there’s no guarantee the slumping first baseman will be in the starting lineup. Morse has sat out the last three games and is batting .193 in his first 88 at-bats since leaving the Giants for Miami during the offseason.
The Marlins opened their 10-game road trip by losing two of three in Washington despite the efforts of second baseman Dee Gordon, who leads the majors with a .430 average and brings an 11-game hitting streak into Thursday’s contest. Miami outfielder Christian Yelich, who has missed the last two weeks due to a lower back strain, should return at some point during the series. The Giants had their five-game winning streak come to an end Wednesday, but there were some encouraging signs from first baseman Brandon Belt, who is 5-for-9 over the last three games. Third baseman Casey McGehee is mired in an 8-for-55 slump and watched Matt Duffy collect four hits while starting the last two games in his place.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Dan Haren (3-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (1-2, 3.78)
Haren won his second consecutive start last Saturday when he tossed six shutout innings in a 7-0 win over Philadelphia. The 34-year-old California native has allowed six home runs in his first five starts, but he’s tossed at least six innings in four of the outings. Angel Pagan is 5-for-8 with a home run against Haren, who is 6-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 18 career games (17 starts) against the Giants.
Hudson earned his first win of the season last Saturday by holding the Angels to three runs on two hits over eight innings. The 17-year veteran has won his last six outings against Miami while posting a 2.32 ERA during that stretch. Giancarlo Stanton is 3-for-18 with six strikeouts against Hudson, who owns a 15-4 record and 2.87 ERA in 26 career starts against the Marlins.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants have won nine of their last 11 home games.
2. Miami is 13-5 at AT&T Park since the start of the 2010 season.
3. San Francisco has scored six runs or fewer in all of its 28 games this season.