Padres at Giants
One day after San Francisco Giants veteran Matt Cain bid a fond farewell to the game, his teammates are set to conclude one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history. The Giants have lost 98 games heading into Sunday’s season finale against the visiting San Diego Padres, who have won 12 of the first 18 meetings between the teams this year.
Cain tossed five shutout innings in the final start of his 13-year career Saturday but San Diego scored two runs in the ninth off Giants closer Sam Dyson and escaped with a 3-2 victory. Dyson has been a pleasant surprise since being acquired from Texas in June but figures to return next season to his role as a setup man for closer Mark Melancon, who had pronator release surgery on his right pitching arm earlier this month and plans on being ready for spring training. The Giants have struggled all season against the Padres and first baseman Wil Myers, who has hit six of his career-high 30 home runs at AT&T Park. A major part of the team’s rebuilding effort, Myers is the first Padre with 30-or-more homers in a season since Chase Headley hit 31 in 2012.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Luis Perdomo (8-11, 4.65 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (8-8, 4.43)
Perdomo is looking to finish the season on a high note after giving up four runs over five innings in an 8-4 loss to Colorado last Sunday. The 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has struggled with his control this season with 64 walks in 156 2/3 innings. Joe Panik has eight hits in 16 at-bats against Perdomo, who is 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA in eight career games (six starts) against San Francisco.
Cueto recorded his second consecutive quality start last Monday against Arizona, allowing two runs over six innings in a 9-2 victory. The 31-year-old has had a disappointing season marked by injuries and inconsistency but has 29 strikeouts over his last four outings covering 21 1/3 innings. Myers is 3-for-22 with one home run against Cueto, who has gone 8-4 with a 3.09 ERA in 14 career starts against San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego has a 7-0-1 series record against the Giants since the 2016 All-Star break.
2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) has resumed baseball activities and expects to be ready for spring training.
3. The Padres bullpen owns a 1.86 ERA in 18 games against the Giants this season.