The San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers are both aiming for a series win heading into Sunday’s afternoon contest at Miller Park
San Francisco Giants at Milwaukee Brewers
San Francisco has now dropped four of five games after falling 3-2 Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee due to a perfectly executed squeeze play with the bases loaded by the home team. “There’s not much you can do,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “When you go ball one, you can’t start pitching out. Then you’re looking at a walk.” The Giants have been in first place in the National League West for the last 11 days, but enter today’s game just a half a game ahead of the Diamondbacks. The team has still posted the fourth-best winning percentage in the Majors this month, going 15-10 (.600). Bettors should be accustomed to watching tight games when this squad is involved, as its played 21 one-run contests, posting a 15-6 mark in those games. San Francisco is 9-12 in day games this season.
Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain is an even 3-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 10 starts this season, including a 2-2 mark and 3.50 ERA in six outings on the road. The right-hander took a loss in his most recent outing versus the Marlins at AT&T Park last Tuesday, surrendering four runs on six hits and issuing a season-tying three walks. If San Francisco’s offense can manage plating three runs, Cain has a great chance of leading the club to a victory, entering with a 14-0 mark and 2.29 ERA when receiving at least three runs of support dating back to the 2010 campaign. He will be making his sixth career starts versus the Brewers, but his first since 2009, registering a 2-3 mark and 4.24 ERA.
Milwaukee improved to 20-7 at home and 7-1 on its current homestand after yesterday’s walk-off win. “We just do anything we can to win,” said Jonathan Lucroy. “We can hit home runs to beat you. Today, I got the squeeze that way.” The Brewers are still just 2-8 in their last 10 home games against the Giants and snapped a five-game losing streak in the series at Miller Park. Sunday’s series finale is important for the club, traveling to Cincinnati to face its NL Central rival, bringing a dismal 8-17 road record. Milwaukee is 9-10 in day games this season and 22-19 when facing right-handed starters.
Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo is 6-2 with a 4.35 ERA in 11 starts this season and enters on a season-high four-game win streak. The right-hander tallied an impressive 11-3 home win last time out, surrendering just a single run and scattering five hits over seven innings, while tallying a season-high tying nine strikeouts. Gallardo has a perfect 4-0 mark and 4.03 ERA in six home games and opponents have taken him deep just three times in 38 innings at Miller Park. In six career starts versus the Giants, he is 4-2 with a 3.68 ERA.
Bettors will likely back the Brewers due to their 7-1 record in Gallardo’s last eight home starts, while the Giants are 8-24 in Cain’s last 32 road starts versus a team with a winning record
