Newcomers might feature for Giants, Padres
The San Francisco Giants hope a visit from the San Diego Padres helps get them headed back in a positive direction in the National League playoff race when the clubs open a four-game series Thursday night.
Both teams will be counting upon newcomers to play key roles as the Giants seek to build upon a 9-6 lead in the season series in the final set between the NL West rivals.
The Giants opened a six-game homestand with a pair of costly losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday and Tuesday, defeats that dropped San Francisco six games out of the final NL wild-card spot with just 30 games remaining.
Seeking an offensive boost after totaling just six runs in the two-game Arizona series, the Giants waived second baseman Scooter Gennett on Tuesday and called up Mauricio Dubon to help fill the void.
Despite the fact his team is still considered to be in the playoff chase, Giants general manager Farhan Zaidi hasn't hesitated giving minor-leaguers a look in recent days. Reliever Tyler Rogers, also promoted from the minors Tuesday, made his major league debut that night in the Giants' 3-2 loss to the Diamondbacks, facing three batters and getting them all out.
"You try to get the matchups with right-handed hitters," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of the submarining right-hander. "He will give us a different look. I know he's resilient and can throw just about every day. He's going to be an asset."
Bochy will send Dereck Rodriguez (5-6, 5.26 ERA) to the mound Thursday in search of his first home win since April 21.
The righty has pitched well against the Padres this season, earning the win in a 3-2 victory at San Diego in March and a loss in a 3-1 home defeat in April. He allowed a total of just four runs and eight hits in 12 innings in those games.
In four career starts against the Padres, Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
One guy Rodriguez didn't face in his two earlier meetings with the Padres was left-handed-hitting Nick Martini, who was claimed by San Diego off waivers on Wednesday.
The former Oakland Athletics outfielder is expected to join his new team in time for Thursday's series opener.
"He's an on-base guy who's done a really nice job of that throughout his entire minor league career," Padres manager Andy Green said of Martini. "He had a really good year last year at the big-league level, with kind of intermittent playing time there."
Martini had one hit in 11 at-bats for Oakland earlier this year, but he batted .328 with a .432 on-base percentage in 70 games for Triple-A Las Vegas.
The Padres made the short flight to San Francisco early Thursday morning after going 10 innings in a 6-4 home loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
The defeat capped a 2-4 homestand on which the Padres lost two of three to each the Boston Red Sox and the Dodgers.
San Diego will call upon right-hander Chris Paddack (7-7, 3.84 ERA) in the series opener.
The rookie has struggled in August, going 0-2 with a 10.06 ERA in four starts.
He will be facing the Giants for a third time this season, having compiled a 3.60 ERA without getting a decision in a 3-1 home win in March and 6-5 loss at San Francisco in June.
--Field Level Media
