The Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants will play the series finale of a weekend series Sunday night at AT&T Park
Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants
Cincinnati picked up an easy 10-2 road victory over San Francisco on Saturday afternoon and has a chance to capture the series on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. The Reds will now look to win back-to-back games for the third time this month after dropping 11 of 14 to close out May. One concerning stat for the club is lack of power over the last four games, failing to hit a home run over that span, the longest such streak of the season. The team ranks third in the National League in homers, behind just the Diamondbacks and Brewers. It’s likely that the streak may continue tonight in such a ballpark like AT&T Park. “This isn’t an easy park to score in,” commented Reds manager Dusty Baker. “And with the pitching they have, unless they walk some guys, in a rally it’s difficult to string together a number of hits.” Cincinnati is 7-6 versus left-handed starters this year.
Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez is 4-2 with a 5.74 ERA in 11 starts this season and the club has alternated wins and losses over his last five outings. The right-hander registered a 8-2 home victory last time out against the Cubs, giving up just a single run and seven hits over seven frames. Volquez will look to move above .500 on the road, entering with a 2-2 mark and 6.56 ERA in five road starts this year. In three career games versus the Giants, he has recorded a winning 2-1 record despite carrying an 8.31 ERA.
San Francisco has scored just nine runs in the past five games and rank near the bottom or the league in runs per game (3.5) and batting average (.240). The Giants have been dealing with key injuries all year and just lost second baseman Freddy Sanchez to the disabled list with a separated shoulder. This has caused the club to take action in signing free agent Bill Hall, who batted .224 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 46 games with Houston. “We need some depth right now and he gives us that at every position in the infield and outfield,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “He has some power, speed, so we’re glad to have him.” San Francisco is 23-24 versus right-handed starters this year.
Giants starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez has tallied a 4-4 mark and 3.51 ERA in 13 starts this season and the club has alternated wins and losses over his last 10 outings. He suffered a 2-1 home defeat last time out versus the Nationals despite giving up just two runs and four hits over five frames. The left-hander has given up the second-most walks in the Majors, issuing 45 free passes in just 74 1/3 innings. In four career starts versus the Reds, Sanchez has tallied a 2-1 record and 3.91 ERA.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Giants due to their 7-2 record in Sanchez’s last nine home starts, while the Reds are 0-5 in Volquez’s last five road starts versus a team with a winning record.
