Rockies at Giants
The San Francisco Giants have serious question marks at the back end of their starting rotation, but they’re 13-6 when their top trio of Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija take the mound. Cueto looks to continue the positive trend Saturday as the Giants resume their four-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies, who fell to 5-3 on their 10-game road trip with Friday’s 6-4 loss.
San Francisco opened the series with a 17-7 drubbing before bouncing back behind Bumgarner's solid outing and Brandon Crawford's three-run homer. Hunter Pence recorded three hits after missing one game due to back tightness while Joe Panik (groin) started for the first time in a week and was 1-for-3 with a stolen base. The Giants had two steals Friday against Colorado catcher Dustin Garneau, who was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque after Nick Hundley landed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. The Rockies are 7-4 in their last 11 games at AT&T Park thanks in large to Nolan Arenado, who raised his average to .316 with two more hits Friday and is batting .311 with 17 home runs in 55 career contests against the Giants.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (0-1, 7.98 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (4-1, 3.61)
Gray took the loss against San Diego on Monday despite registering a career-high 11 strikeouts and yielding two runs in six innings. “Gray was outstanding,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “I thought he threw the ball extremely well. He doesn't have his first win yet, but if he pitches like that, he's going to get a lot of wins.” The 24-year-old is 0-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 12 major-league starts but owns a 2.77 ERA in five career outings on the road.
Cueto returned to Cincinnati on Monday and struck out eight but allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks in five frames against his former team. The 30-year-old pitched well with the exception of the third inning, when he threw 46 pitches and surrendered all six runs. Gerardo Parra is 9-for-29 with two home runs against Cueto, who is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA in eight career starts against Colorado - including 3-0 in his last four outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt is 16-for-39 with six extra-base hits and 12 RBIs over his last 14 games.
2. Weiss said Garneau will share time behind the plate with Tony Wolters while Hundley is out.
3. The Giants recalled Albert Suarez from Triple-A Sacramento and designated fellow RHP Vin Mazzaro for assignment.