Padres at Giants
San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner is in search of his first win as he makes his fourth start of the season but faces an opponent that has bedeviled him of late. Bumgarner, who missed more than two months due to a broken pinkie suffered in spring training, gets the ball for Thursday's opener of a four-game set versus the San Diego Padres.
Bumgarner has not beaten San Diego since May 17, 2016, going 0-4 in his last six starts against San Francisco's National West Division rival. Gorkys Hernández was 4-for-8 with a homer and five RBIs as the Giants won the last two against Miami to win the opening series on their 10-game homestand. The Padres, in the midst of playing 17 and 19 away from home, were swept in a two-game interleague series by visiting Oakland and have scored seven runs during a four-game skid. Wil Myers could return from the disabled list for San Diego but he is only 5-for-35 in his career against Bumgarner.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tyson Ross (5-4, 3.51 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 4.67)
Ross had his six-start unbeaten streak halted at Atlanta despite giving up three runs on only three hits over six innings. It marked the seventh straight start in which the 31-year-old permitted three earned runs or fewer. Brandon Belt is 8-for-21 against Ross, who pitched six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision at San Francisco on May 1 and six innings of one-run ball to beat the Giants on April 13.
Bumgarner pitched six innings for the second time in his three starts but was touched for three runs on five hits while walking four and surrendering two homers in a 3-1 loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has made 30 career starts against the Padres, tying Arizona for the most against any opponent, and is 10-9 with a 3.46 ERA. Hunter Renfroe is 5-for-10 with two homers and four RBIs versus Bumgarner.
WALK-OFFS
1. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva hit his 16th homer Wednesday, ending a 13-game drought.
2. Giants SS Alen Hanson exited Wednesday's game due to a knee contusion.
3. Padres OF Franchy Cordero has a bone spur in the back of his elbow that will likely require surgery.