Padres at Giants
After a rough start, Eric Hosmer appears to be settling in nicely with the San Diego Padres, who signed the veteran to an eight-year contract in February. The 28-year-old first baseman looks to build on his recent success Wednesday when the Padres face the host San Francisco Giants in the rubber match of their three-game series.
Hosmer helped San Diego record a 3-2 victory Tuesday with a two-out solo blast in the ninth inning off Giants closer Hunter Strickland and is 9-for-16 with five extra-base hits during his four-game hitting streak. Prior to Tuesday’s game, the Padres placed catcher Austin Hedges on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow, and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out. The Giants had their three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday and received another blow when starting pitcher Johnny Cueto landed on the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. Rookie Andrew Suarez will likely take Cueto’s spot in the rotation after the left-hander impressed again with seven strong innings on Tuesday.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (1-3, 5.35 ERA) vs. Giants LH Derek Holland (0-3, 5.76)
Richard suffered his second straight loss last Friday despite holding the New York Mets to three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old native of Indiana has tossed at least five innings in each of his six starts but hasn’t been able to duplicate his success from Opening Day, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball against Milwaukee. Richard is 6-7 with a 4.25 ERA in 21 career games (18 starts) against the Giants and has struggled to contain Buster Posey (12-for-32 with two homers).
Holland remained winless in five starts with the Giants when he gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Friday. The 31-year-old has seen his ERA climb in each of his last four outings. Hosmer is 7-for-16 with a home run against Holland, who allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings against San Diego on April 14 at Petco Park and has gone 0-1 with a 7.84 ERA in two career starts against the Padres.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants LHP Will Smith, who missed the entire 2017 season following Tommy John surgery, is expected to be activated from the disabled list prior to Wednesday's game.
2. The Padres recalled C Rafael Lopez from Triple-A El Paso to replace Hedges.
3. Giants 3B Evan Longoria is four hits away from reaching 1,500 for his career.