San Diego @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2010 ) San Diego 3, San Francisco 2
The San Francisco Giants’ hitters have received three close looks at San Diego Padres ace Mat Latos this season. They haven’t been too thrilled with the view.
Latos has allowed just two runs and 11 hits in three starts against San Francisco and will look to continue the mastery Saturday afternoon when he starts the second contest of the pivotal three-game series in San Francisco.
The Padres won Friday’s opener to increase their lead in the NL West to 3 1/2 games over San Francisco. San Diego is 8-1 against the Giants this season.
Friday's victory came on the heels of a boast by Giants left-hander Jonathan Sanchez that San Francisco would sweep the series. Sanchez was the losing pitcher on Friday.
Latos will attempt to make it two consecutive San Diego wins as he makes his second career start at AT&T Park.
His first start was near perfect. Latos allowed only an infield single to Eli Whiteside when he one-hit the Giants in a 1-0 victory on May 13.
Latos also blanked San Francisco over seven innings in April. In his other start against the Giants, he permitted two runs and six hits while receiving a no-decision.
The 22-year-old right-hander is 12-5 with a 2.36 ERA during his first full major-league season.
Latos has allowed two runs or less in 16 of his last 17 starts and has limited opposing hitters to a .191 batting average.
San Francisco rookie Madison Bumgarner draws the assignment of facing Latos.
Bumgarner is 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 10 starts. He is 0-2 with a no-decision in his last three starts after winning four consecutive outings.
The left-handed Bumgarner made his major-league debut against the Padres last September, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He wasn’t involved in the decision.
The Giants took another swipe at upgrading their offense by acquiring veteran outfielder Jose Guillen from the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
Guillen was recently designated for assignment by Kansas City and the Giants got him for a player to be named later. He hit .255 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs for the Royals.
The Giants are Guillen’s 10th team in 14 major-league seasons. Guillen is expected to start in right field on Saturday afternoon.
San Diego third baseman Chase Headley went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Friday. Headley had hit just .161 (5-for-31) over the previous nine games.
Padres right fielder Ryan Ludwick also had two hits. Ludwick is 6-for-15 (.400) with three homers over the past four games.