Giants at Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers look to continue the surge toward their first playoff spot since 2011 when they attempt to finish off a three-game sweep of the visiting San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers hold a 2 1/2-game lead on St. Louis for the National League’s top wild-card spot after winning eight of their last 10, including a 4-3 triumph Saturday aided by solo homers from Travis Shaw and Christian Yelich.
Yelich has reached base in 24 straight games and sits second in the NL with a .316 batting average for Milwaukee, while Shaw snapped out of a 1-for-13 slump to launch his 28th homer in Saturday’s victory. Zach Davies looks to match his impressive first start since coming off the disabled list when he takes the mound for the Brewers and the Giants counter with former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner. San Francisco is playing out the string after losing seven straight games and falling to 2-11 in their last 13 road contests despite out-hitting Milwaukee 6-5 on Saturday. Third baseman Ryder Jones belted a pinch-hit homer Saturday and is 3-for-7 with a pair of blasts and three RBIs in four games since being recalled.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Wisconsin, Dish455 (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-5, 3.07 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Zach Davies (2-5, 4.88)
Bumgarner was pounded for seven runs (six earned) and eight hits (three homers) over five innings Monday at Colorado after two dazzling performances in which he allowed one run over 15 frames. The 29-year-old North Carolina native owns five quality starts in his last eight appearances, including scoreless outings against playoff hopefuls Houston and Arizona. Yelich is 5-for-14 with four doubles versus Bumgarner, who is 7-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 11 career games against Milwaukee.
Davies pitched his first game since a three-month stretch on the disabled list Monday, holding the Chicago Cubs to one run over five innings with seven strikeouts. “Oh, man, that’s a great outing,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “. … He tunnels in, he doesn’t let a lot of things get in his way and I thought he was outstanding.” The 25-year-old Arizona native gave up two unearned runs over six frames in his only career meeting with the Giants, suffering the loss last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt and SS Brandon Crawford were limited to pinch-hitting duties Saturday due to a sore left knees.
2. Milwaukee 1B Jesus Aguilar has four RBIs in his last four games and needs three to reach 100 for the first time.
3. The Giants are batting .311 with the bases loaded this season, best in the NL and fourth-best in the majors.