Brewers at Giants
Newly acquired reliever Joakim Soria is expected to be available Friday when the Milwaukee Brewers continue their four-game series against the host San Francisco Giants. The two-time All-Star will serve as a setup man to closer Corey Knebel for the Brewers, who snapped a six-game road losing streak with Thursday’s 7-5 victory.
Milwaukee, which trails the Chicago Cubs by 2 1/2 games in the NL Central but is 2 1/2 clear for a wild-card spot, improved to 4-3 since the All-Star break behind another strong performance from outfielder Christian Yelich, who went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs in Thursday's win and is 22-for-42 during his 10-game hitting streak. Shortstop Orlando Arcia returned to the starting lineup following a month-long demotion to the minors but went 0-for-5 while batting eighth. San Francisco has lost four of its last five and sits 4 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot, but received a boost Thursday from third baseman Evan Longoria, who went 2-for-4 in his first action since landing on the disabled list six weeks ago with a broken left hand. The Giants will be without Brandon Belt for at least the next 10 days after the first baseman suffered a hyperextended left knee Wednesday.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (6-7, 3.81 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-3, 3.19)
Anderson remained winless since June 29 after allowing two runs over four innings while throwing 104 pitches in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The 30-year-old native of Texas had six strikeouts in the contest but owns an underwhelming 87-to-42 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 108 2/3 innings. Buster Posey is 5-for-12 against Anderson, who is 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA in five career starts versus San Francisco.
Bumgarner recorded his shortest stint in more than three years Saturday, pitching four innings and allowing three runs with six walks in a no-decision against Oakland. The four-time All-Star has struggled with his control since coming off the disabled list in early June, posting a 46-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio in nine starts covering 53 2/3 innings. Ryan Braun is 8-for-29 with two homers against Bumgarner, who has made 10 career starts against the Brewers, going 7-2 with a 2.25 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco has won 11 of its last 14 games against Milwaukee at AT&T Park.
2. Milwaukee optioned RHP Jorge Lopez to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room for Arcia.
3. The Giants optioned LHP Ty Blach and INF Kelby Tomlinson to Triple-A Sacramento.