Padres at Giants
The San Diego Padres were the worst offensive team in the majors last season, and things haven’t looked much better this week. The Padres bring a 20-inning scoreless streak into Wednesday’s matchup against the visiting San Francisco Giants, who have won 11 of their last 15 games to move into second place in the National League West.
San Diego actually began the series as the league’s highest scoring team, but the Padres have been outscored 8-0 and held to six singles in the first two games. Third baseman Will Middlebrooks is mired in a 0-for-21 slump while right fielder Matt Kemp is hitless in his last 13 at-bats. The Giants have won eight straight at home behind solid starting pitching and the hitting of shortstop Brandon Crawford, who is 8-for-19 in his last six games. Center fielder Angel Pagan missed Tuesday’s game due to a cracked fingernail but could return for Wednesday’s series finale.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Ian Kennedy (1-1, 7.11 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (2-2, 2.51)
Kennedy bounced back from a shaky outing against the Dodgers by holding Colorado to two runs with six strikeouts over six innings Friday. The 30-year-old faced San Francisco on April 9 but was forced to exit after 2 1/3 innings due to a hamstring injury. Brandon Belt is 8-for-25 with two home runs against Kennedy, who is 9-4 with a 2.48 ERA in 21 career starts against the Giants.
Heston finished April on a strong note with six innings of one-run ball against the Angels on Friday. The 27-year-old rookie has helped the Giants overcome the loss of Matt Cain (flexor tendon) and Jake Peavy (back) by tossing at least six innings in four of his first five starts. Right-handed hitters are batting .203 against Heston, who allowed three runs over four innings against the Padres in his first start career start Sept. 28.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego C Austin Hedges is expected to make his first major league start Wednesday.
2. The Giants have recorded three straight shutouts for the first time since they had four June 25-28, 2012.
3. The Padres placed RHP Brandon Morrow (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled LHP Frank Garces from Triple-A El Paso.