Brewers at Giants
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet Saturday as the San Francisco Giants continue their four-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, who bolstered their roster this week with two key acquisitions. Milwaukee has gone 5-3 since the All-Star break while San Francisco has dropped three in a row and five of its last six to fall one game under .500.
Ryan Braun drove in two runs and newly acquired reliever Joakim Soria made a successful debut in Friday’s 3-1 victory as the Brewers moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. After the game, Milwaukee obtained power-hitting veteran Mike Moustakas from Kansas City and will start him regularly at third base while Travis Shaw moves to second. San Francisco was held to six hits in Friday’s loss and failed to execute in the eighth inning, when Buster Posey grounded out with the bases loaded and two outs. Posey has recorded just two extra-base hits in his last 18 contests for the Giants, who are averaging 3.6 runs per contest this month and sit five games out of the second NL wild-card spot.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacin (9-3, 3.58 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (3-1, 2.76)
Chacin won his third straight decision on Monday, allowing one run and two hits with a season-high nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against Washington. “His slider has been outstanding,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “It's different speeds, different shapes, different locations, and it’s a really good pitch to start with.” The 30-year-old Venezuelan is 8-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 21 career starts (20 games) against San Francisco, including a 4-1 mark and 2.02 ERA in eight outings at AT&T Park.
Cueto pitched seven innings against Oakland on Sunday and did not factor in the decision after giving up four runs and six hits. The two-time All-Star has made three starts since returning from an elbow injury that landed him on the disabled list, yielding seven homers and 12 earned runs in 17 frames. Christian Yelich is 5-for-15 with a home run against Cueto, who owns an 11-3 record and 2.74 ERA in 21 career starts versus Milwaukee.
WALK-OFFS
1. Yelich is 24-for-45 with three homers and 12 RBIs during his 11-game hitting streak.
2. San Francisco’s 11 home runs this month are the fewest in the majors.
3. The Brewers traded OF Brett Phillips and RHP Jorge Lopez to Kansas City for Moustakas.