Padres at Giants
Madison Bumgarner takes aim at producing his first win of the season when the San Francisco Giants open a four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Thursday. The Giants' ace left-hander missed nearly three months after injuring his pitching shoulder in a dirt-bike accident and received a no-decision in his return last Saturday against the Padres.
Bumgarner gave up three runs and four hits over seven innings in the start against San Diego, which was his fifth outing of the season. His absence has been a factor in San Francisco's woeful 37-59 campaign but the Giants are fresh off back-to-back one-run victories against the Cleveland Indians, including a 5-4 triumph on Wednesday courtesy of Buster Posey's pinch-hit, two-run eighth-inning double. The Padres, who took two of three from the Giants last weekend in San Diego, were mauled 18-4 by the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday and allowed 36 runs while suffering a three-game sweep. Rookie outfielder Jabari Blash was 5-for-8 with one homer, five RBIs and three walks against the Rockies and is 10-for-20 with two blasts and eight RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (8-7, 4.33 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (0-3, 3.18)
Chacin received a no-decision against San Francisco last Saturday when he allowed three runs and six hits over six innings while matched up against Bumgarner. The 29-year-old is 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts against the Giants this season and 7-6 with a 3.40 in 18 career appearances (17 starts). Chacin allowed two or fewer runs in six consecutive starts prior to the Giants scoring three times off him.
Bumgarner has a strong 1.03 WHIP and is limiting batters to a .221 average against despite his winless mark. The 27-year-old standout lost to San Diego on April 8 when he gave up two runs and six hits over eight innings of a 2-1 defeat. Bumgarner is 10-8 with a 3.38 ERA in 30 career appearances (29 starts) against the Padres and has shut down Wil Myers (5-for-33, one homer).
WALK-OFFS
1. Posey, who is 10-for-28 with one homer versus Chacin, is 8-for-20 during a six-game hitting streak.
2. San Diego rookie RF Hunter Renfroe (neck) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game.
3. San Francisco INF Eduardo Nunez (hamstring) hopes to return to the starting lineup Thursday after his pinch-hit single on Wednesday allowed him to reach base in 35 of his last 36 games.