Giants at Phillies
The San Francisco Giants are on their longest winning streak of the season and will go for their fifth consecutive victory when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night. It is the opener of a four-game series for the teams and comes after San Francisco completed a three-game sweep of National League East-leading Atlanta over the weekend.
San Francisco has piled up 33 runs over its past four wins and outscored the Braves 24-9 in its first sweep in Atlanta since 2014. Giants starter Jeff Samardzija has a nightmarish history against the Phillies, owning an 8.18 ERA against them overall and a 15.43 mark in four appearances at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia suffered its fourth straight series loss when closer Hector Neris (1-2) walked in the tying run before giving up the game-winning single in the ninth inning of a 5-4 loss at Washington on Sunday. Maikel Franco is 7-for-15 with two homers and three doubles during a four-game RBI and hitting streak for the Phillies.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 5.27 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (0-0, 1.50)
Samardzija has sandwiched two solid outings around a dud, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings in a no-decision against San Diego last time out. The 33-year-old was knocked around for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in a loss versus Washington on April 25 after tossing five scoreless innings at the Los Angeles Angels in his season debut. Carlos Santana is hitless in seven at-bats against Samardzija.
Elfin had a no-decision in a strong season debut last time out, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning and permitting one run on three hits over six frames. He made 11 starts in each of his first two seasons, posting a 4-10 record overall and surrendering 28 home runs in only 127 2/3 innings. Red-hot Brandon Crawford is 4-for-8 with two homers off Elfin, who is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA versus the Giants.
WALK-OFFS
1. Crawford has multiple hits in four straight contests, going 10-for-18 with seven RBIs, to extend his overall hitting streak to five games.
2. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera, who had three hits Sunday, is batting .386 at home.
3. Giants RF Andrew McCutchen has hit safely in six straight games.