This week in SF Giants baseball: What to know heading into visits to St. Louis, Dodger Stadium
After a brief pit stop back home, the San Francisco Giants hit the road again this week for three games against the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants (33-32) sit seven games back in the National League West and a half-game out of the second wild card spot after dropping two of three games to the Cubs at Oracle Park over the weekend. They may welcome more jet travel: They’ve won eight of their past 10 games away from Oracle Park and all of their past three road series; meanwhile, they have lost their past three series at home, going 3-6.
The week ahead
The 2014 season provided some memorable wins in St. Louis, and it was also the last time the Giants took the season series from the Redbirds. They have a chance to do so with just one win at Busch Stadium this week after taking three out of four at Oracle Park in April. The season has been an unmitigated disaster for the perpetual playoff contenders. They have not won a series since May 19-21 and have lost seven of their past nine games entering this week’s series. At 12 games under .500, though, the Cardinals are only 1.5 games further back in their division than the Giants are in the NL West.
Heading into the Giants’ first trip of the season to Dodger Stadium this weekend, it is currently slated to be a battle of the second- and third-place teams in the NL West, both trailing the upstart D-backs. The Dodgers own a 3-6 record so far in June and returned home Sunday night from a tough road trip that featured three walk-off losses and knocked them out of first place. Like the Giants, they have also been piecing together their pitching with seemingly everyone but Clayton Kershaw and rookie sensation Bobby Miller spending time on the IL.
Probable pitchers
Monday, 4:45 p.m. PT – RHP Logan Webb (4-6, 3.09) vs. LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-2, 6.00)
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
Tuesday, 4:45 p.m. PT – RHP Alex Cobb (5-2, 3.01) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (3-4, 4.15)
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
Wednesday, 10:15 a.m. PT – RHP Anthony DeSclafani (4-6, 3.89) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-7, 3.88)
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
Friday, 7:10 p.m. PT – LHP Alex Wood (1-1, 4.80)* vs. RHP Bobby Miller (3-0, 0.78)*
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
Saturday, 6:10 p.m. PT – RHP Logan Webb (4-6, 3.09)* vs. RHP Tony Gonsolin (3-1, 2.21)*
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. PT – RHP Alex Cobb (5-2, 3.01)* vs. TBA
- TV: NBC Sports Bay Area; Radio: KNBR
*=unofficial
Three storylines to watch
1. Rivalry renewed: The Giants make their first trip to Dodger Stadium, which was a house of horrors last season. While losing the most games to their NL West rivals in the teams’ California history — 15 of their 19 meetings — the Giants went 1-8 in Chavez Ravine. Thanks to the balanced schedule, the Giants will make only one more visit this season (Sept. 21-24) and will face their archrivals only 13 times.
2. Trade partners: Take a good look at the Cardinals this week, because they could make a good match at the trade deadline. Both teams entered the season with plans of contending, and both could be either buyers or sellers come Aug. 2. But if the Cardinals do look to unload, Paul Goldschmidt might be the best bat available. The Cardinals’ rotation has underperformed, but Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery and Miles Mikolas could provide a boost to a rotation suddenly lacking starters.
3. Giant killers: Good luck to Giants pitchers, who this week have to face the three players with more ownage against this club than anyone in the past decade. Since 2013, who has hit the most home runs against San Francisco pitchers? Nolan Arenado (33), Max Muncy (25) and Goldschmidt (24).
Who’s hot
Last 15 days
DH Joc Pederson: 10-for-22, .455/.538/.727, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R
2B Thairo Estrada: 7-for-26, .269/.345/.731, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, SB
LHP Sean Manaea: 3 games (13 IP), 2.77 ERA, 9 H, 1 BB, 13 K
Who’s not
Last 15 days
IF Casey Schmitt: 8-for-38, .211/.225/.316, 4 2B, 9 K
OF Mitch Haniger: 9-for-45, .200/.294/.289, 4 2B, 5 BB, 12 K
RHP Anthony DeSclafani: 3 games (16 IP), 5.63 ERA, 16 H, 7 BB, 6 K
Injury report
C Patrick Bailey (neck stiffness): Has sat out four of the past five games but was “doing much better” and available off the bench Sunday, according to Gabe Kapler, an improvement from only in emergency situations the previous game. Eligible to return: N/A (day-to-day)
RHP Ross Stripling (low back strain): Out since May 17, Stripling will spend this week in Arizona, where he is scheduled to face live hitters for the first time Tuesday. Threw a 30-35 pitch bullpen in San Francisco on Sunday and said he’s healthy and focused on fine-tuning his mechanics. Eligible: Now
LHP Alex Wood (low back strain): Out since June 1, Wood is in line to return this weekend after a rehab start Sunday at Triple-A Sacramento. He threw 53 pitches (33 strikes) over three innings while allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout and one walk. Eligible: Friday