Braves at Giants
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy plans to give rookie Christian Arroyo the day off Saturday as the team continues its three-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves, and it sure seems like the 21-year-old could use the break. Arroyo is mired in a lengthy slump with six hits in his last 52 at-bats for the underachieving Giants, who have lost four straight to fall 10 games under .500.
Arroyo went 0-for-3 in Friday’s 2-0 loss and could be headed back to Triple-A Sacramento if his struggles continue, but Bochy issued a vote of confidence in the team’s top position prospect before the series opener. The Giants are the lowest-scoring team in the majors at 3.32 runs per game and have failed to generate any consistent offense outside of Buster Posey, who is batting .338 with seven home runs. While Bochy juggles his lineup in hopes of climbing back into contention, the Braves have won 10 of their last 15 games, recording 49 extra-base hits in that stretch. First baseman Matt Adams, who was acquired from St. Louis last week to replace injured star Freddie Freeman, has gone 8-for-21 with two home runs during his five-game hitting streak.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN South (Atlanta), NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (3-4, 3.86 ERA) vs. Giants LH Ty Blach (2-2, 4.10)
Foltynewicz won his third straight start on Monday, allowing two runs - one earned - and eight hits over five innings against Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old has improved his control in recent weeks, posting a 10-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his last three outings. Brandon Crawford is 5-for-10 with three home runs against the Illinois native, who has gone 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two career starts versus San Francisco.
Blach is making his seventh start of the season in place of ace Madison Bumgarner, who is out indefinitely with a left shoulder sprain. The 26-year-old Blach posted his second straight victory on Monday, holding the Chicago Cubs to three earned runs over seven-plus innings. “I had the same mindset I took into starts last year,” Blach told reporters. “Be aggressive, dictate the game and let guys make plays on the ground.”
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta RHP Jason Motte has made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances since giving up two runs in his debut with the team.
2. San Francisco activated INF Aaron Hill from the disabled list and optioned LHP Steven Okert to Triple-A Sacramento.
3. The Braves have lost nine of their last 14 games at AT&T Park.