After getting shut out on Friday night, the San Francisco Giants will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon and even their three-game series with the Texas Rangers. And guess what? It’s Brandon Crawford Appreciation Day! So appreciate Brandon Crawford, damn it. Or I’m coming for you.
San Francisco will be a player short today, as second baseman Tyler Fitzgerald was scratched from the lineup with a chest contusion, which was sustained when diving for a ground ball in Friday’s game.
Taking the mound for the Giants is southpaw Robbie Ray, who makes his sixth start of the year. Ray is still searching for the control that was the highlight of his spring, as he’s been a bit of a walk machine in the early going. He’s 3-0 on the year with a 4.07 ERA, but has a 5.86 FIP and 25 strikeouts to an MLB-worst 18 walks in 24.1 innings. He gave up two runs in five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers his last time out.
On the other side is righty Tyler Mahle, who has been nothing short of dominant in five starts this year, though he also is walking a lot of people. The nine-year veteran is 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA, a 2.50 FIP, and 25 strikeouts to 12 walks in 26.2 innings. Mahle has only allowed 10 hits all season, and no home runs. He leads the Majors in ERA, ERA+, hits per nine innings, and home runs per nine innings. He pitched seven shutout innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers his last time out, and for that we thank him, even if it scares us.
Enjoy the game! Go Giants! Go Brandon Crawford!
Lineups
Giants
- Mike Yastrzemski (L) — RF
- Willy Adames (R) — SS
- Jung Hoo Lee (L) — CF
- Matt Chapman (R) — 3B
- Wilmer Flores (R) — DH
- Heliot Ramos (R) — LF
- LaMonte Wade Jr. (L) — 1B
- Christian Koss (R) — 2B
- Sam Huff (R) — C
LHP. Robbie Ray
Rangers
- Kevin Pillar (R) — CF
- Wyatt Langford (R) — LF
- Josh Jung (R) — 3B
- Jake Burger (R) — 1B
- Marcus Semien (R) — 2B
- Jonah Heim (S) — C
- Kyle Higashioka (R) — DH
- Josh Smith (L) — RF
- Nick Ahmed (R) — SS
RHP. Tyler Mahle
Game #28
Who: San Francisco Giants (17-10) vs. Texas Rangers (15-11)
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
When: 1:05 p.m. PT
Regional broadcast: n/a
National broadcast: FOX
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM
