Giants at Rockies
The San Francisco Giants attempt to turn around their fortunes on what has been a difficult eight-game road trip when they visit the Colorado Rockies on Monday for the opener of their three-game series. San Francisco suffered an 8-3 loss to the Cubs in Chicago on Sunday to fall to 1-4 on its trek after winning the final two contests of its four-game home set against Colorado.
Pablo Sandoval went 1-for-3 with an RBI while making his first career start at second base Sunday while Brandon Crawford recorded his second straight two-hit performance, giving him hits in 12 of his last 13 contests. Colorado began its nine-game homestand by winning two of three against Cincinnati, including an 8-2 triumph on Sunday. Carlos Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with one of Colorado's four home runs, a two-run blast into the upper deck in the first inning that represented his 1,300th career hit. Nolan Arenado finished 4-for-9 with two homers and three RBIs against the Reds as the Rockies improved to 2-4-1 in home series this year.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Andrew Suarez (1-4, 5.68 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chad Bettis (4-1, 3.30)
Suarez is looking to halt a three-start losing streak during which he has surrendered 15 runs and 22 hits over 14 innings. The 25-year-old Floridian rookie has yielded five runs over four frames in each of his last two turns on the road after earning his first career victory at Atlanta on May 6, when he gave up one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings. Suarez, who will be facing Colorado for the first time, has registered 30 strikeouts and issued only seven walks in 31 2/3 overall frames.
Bettis remains in search of his first win at home this season after surrendering 12 runs on 19 hits and seven walks over 15 2/3 innings in three no-decisions at Coors Field. The 29-year-old Texan has made seven of his 10 starts of 2018 on the road, including Tuesday's no-decision at Los Angeles in which he limited the Dodgers to two runs over five frames. Bettis is 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA and his lone career complete game - a shutout - in eight starts and four relief appearances against San Francisco.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies OF David Dahl is riding a four-game hitting streak during which he has gone 5-for-17 with a homer and four RBIs.
2. San Francisco signed RHP Taylor Hill, who last pitched in the majors with Washington in 2015, to a minor-league contract.
3. Colorado 2B DJ LeMahieu, who has missed 12 games with a left thumb injury, participated in batting practice and fielding drills on Sunday and will do the same before the series opener.