Marlins at Giants
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy has experimented with several different lineups early this season, but his latest version may stick for a while. The Giants head into Saturday’s game against the visiting Miami Marlins looking to build on their breakout performance in Friday’s series opener, when they recorded 14 hits and snapped a five-game losing streak with an impressive 8-1 victory.
Bochy moved Matt Duffy back into the No. 3 spot in the batting order Friday after watching his underachieving lineup struggle to hit with runners in scoring position. “Let's try what worked last year, because right now, it’s not working,” Bochy told reporters. “We're just going back to what worked for us for a while last year. Matt is swinging the bat well. I think it's fair to say that guys are trying to find their swings.” The same could be said for the Marlins, who have lost seven of their last nine games and need more production from players such as Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna, who has two extra-base hits in his last 29 at-bats and is batting .203 overall. The offense would be an even greater concern if not for Christian Yelich, who is hitting .400 after belting three doubles in Friday’s loss.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Florida (Miami), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (1-1, 3.78 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (0-1, 9.00)
Fernandez battled control issues again on Monday against Washington but earned his first win after yielding one run in six innings. The 23-year-old has allowed a total of two runs over 11 innings in his last two starts with seven walks on that stretch. “I’m just trying to come out of the gate throwing strikes and getting early contact, that’s my goal,” Fernandez told the Miami Herald. "The Giants have some tough hitters. I’m just trying to not overthrow and give my boys a chance to win.”
Peavy’s early-season struggles continued against Arizona on Monday as he allowed four runs and seven hits over five innings. The three-time All-Star has yielded a total of 28 hits over 14 frames in his first three starts. Opponents are batting .431 against the 34-year-old, who owns a 5-4 record with a 2.83 ERA in nine career starts against the Marlins - including a complete-game effort while pitching for the Chicago White Sox on May 25, 2013.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco optioned OF Mac Williamson to Triple-A Sacramento and purchased the contract of INF Conor Gillaspie.
2. Miami is 15-8 at AT&T Park since 2010.
3. The Giants have been held scoreless in the first inning in 14 of their first 18 games.