Giants at Astros
The Houston Astros’ offense is so potent, even a five-RBI performance by their ninth-place hitter can go relatively unnoticed. The surging Astros are a season-high 13 games over .500 and conclude a brief two-game interleague series against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon before heading out on a seven-game road trip.
With Tony Kemp leading the way from the bottom of the order with two hits and a career-high five RBIs, the Astros rolled to an 11-2 victory on Tuesday, giving them five wins in their last six games. Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve drove in two runs apiece for the Astros, who lead the majors in run differential at plus-107 - which is 28 runs better than the second-place New York Yankees. Gerrit Cole worked six strong innings Tuesday, with his only mistake being a two-run homer he served up to brother-in-law Brandon Crawford. Brandon Belt doubled in three at-bats for the Giants in his first contest since being named the National League Player of the Week after batting .444 with five homers and 11 RBIs in seven games.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet-Southwest (Houston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 6.30 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (5-2, 1.05)
Samardzija did not factor in the decision against Colorado on Thursday after allowing three runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old native of Indiana is winless in his last five starts, giving up 21 runs while issuing 14 walks in 25 frames. Altuve is 7-for-25 with five strikeouts against Samardzija, who owns a 6-3 record and 3.51 ERA in 22 career games (seven starts) against Houston - including a 1-1 mark and 3.51 ERA in six contests (three starts) at Minute Maid Park.
Verlander recorded the eighth shutout of his career last Wednesday, when he held the Los Angeles Angels to five hits while registering seven strikeouts in a 2-0 victory. “Pretty much a clinic on how to pitch,” manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “I mean, it’s just an epic performance by a really good pitcher.” The six-time All-Star, who is making his second career start against the Giants, leads the majors in ERA (1.05), WHIP (0.72), opponents' batting average (.148) and opponents' OPS (.449).
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco LHP Madison Bumgarner (finger) threw 30 pitches on Tuesday and could begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday.
2. Kemp is 6-for-14 with six RBIs in five games since being recalled from Triple-A Fresno last Wednesday.
3. The Giants placed RHP Jose Valdez (elbow) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled LHP Josh Osich from Sacramento.