San Diego @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 24, 2015 ) San Diego 0, San Francisco 6

The San Francisco Giants’ injury-riddled outfield is forcing manager Bruce Bochy to get creative with his lineup, but otherwise it’s business as usual for the reigning World Series champions. The Giants have won four of their last six heading into Thursday’s rubber match of a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres.

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki (fractured right fibula) and right fielder Hunter Pence (left wrist tendinitis) are out indefinitely, which could create an opportunity for backup catcher Andrew Susac, who received the start in Wednesday’s 6-0 victory. Bochy said Brandon Belt and Travis Ishikawa will share time in left field with Aoki out, with Buster Posey moving to first base when Susac starts at catcher. Bochy won’t receive any sympathy from Padres interim manager Pat Murphy, whose team has scored three or fewer runs in 10 of its last 12 games. Murphy looked to spark the offense by having Matt Kemp hit leadoff Wednesday for the first time since 2010, but the struggling veteran went 0-for-4 and has five hits in his last 28 at-bats.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH James Shields (7-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (7-5, 3.83 ERA)

Shields on Friday suffered his first loss after yielding four runs over six frames in a 4-2 loss at Arizona. Control was once again an issue for Shields, who issued four walks in the defeat and has granted 29 free passes over 93 2/3 innings. The 33-year-old is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two career starts against the Giants, including seven innings of one-run ball at Petco Park on April 11.

Heston earned his first win since tossing a no-hitter against the Mets on June 9 by holding the Dodgers to three runs in 5 2/3 innings Friday. “He’s been big for us,” Posey told reporters. “Every time he takes the ball, I think he expects to have a good outing.” The 27-year-old rookie is looking to improve on his last outing against the Padres on May 6, when he was rocked for five runs on 11 hits over five frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego INF Yangervis Solarte is 7-for-49 with one extra-base hit in June.

2. Giants RHP Sergio Romo is expected to be available Thursday after hyperextending his right knee in Tuesday’s game.

3. The Padres placed RHP Dale Thayer (right shoulder strain) on the 15-day disabled list and optioned RHP Nick Vincent to Triple-A El Paso. RHPs Kevin Quackenbush and Marcos Mateo were recalled from El Paso.

PREDICTION: Padres 5, Giants 3