Padres southpaw Clayton Richard is 2-0 in three starts against the Giants this season.
The battle for first place in the
National League West continues Friday when the first place
San Diego Padres make the short trip to San Francisco to take on the second place Giants. Both clubs are scheduled to send southpaws to the mound for the first game of a three-game series.
San Diego entered Friday's game with a four-game wining streak and a 2 ½-game lead over San Francisco.
San Diego's dominance in the season series against the Giants has a lot to do with maintaining that lead. The Padres have captured seven of the eight meetings this season and have held the Giants to just 16 runs in the process. San Diego pitching has limited the Giants to two runs or less in seven of the eight meetings, including two shutout victories.
The ‘under' is 6-1-1 in those first eight meetings, including 2-0-1 in a three-game San Diego sweep at San Francisco in mid-May. The Padres registered road wins of 3-2, 5-2 and 1-0.
Clayton Richard (9-5, 3.83 ERA) will be making his 24th start of the season and the fourth against the Giants. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound southpaw is 2-0 in the first three assignments, allowing just four runs in 20 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old went into the seventh inning on all three occasions, but did not toss more than 100 pitches in any of the efforts.
Ironically, the Padres closed as an underdog during all three of Richard's starts. They were 106 home underdogs during their 3-2 victory on April 19, with the combined five runs dipping ‘under' the seven-run closing total. Richard was not involved in the decision after allowing one run on seven hits during 6 1/3 innings.
Richard then had back-to-back starts against the Giants on May 12 and May 17. He closed as a hefty 150 road ‘dog in the first outing, but recorded the 5-2 win after yielding two runs on seven hits through seven innings spanning 90 pitches. The combined seven runs landed directly on the closing total.
Five days later, Richard notched a 3-1 victory as a 106 home underdog. He again held the Giants to one run on seven hits through seven innings spanning 98 pitches. The combined four runs ducked ‘under' despite the ‘total' closing at a low 6 ½ runs.
The Padres are just 12-11 in Richard's first 23 starts, with the ‘over' going 11-7-5.
San Francisco will counter with fellow southpaw Jonathan Sanchez (8-7, 3.55 ERA). The Giants are a fine 14-9 in Sanchez's first 23 starts this season, with the ‘over' going 15-7-1.
The 27-year-old Sanchez is 0-2 in three starts against the Padres this season, but two of those setbacks occurred by an identical 1-0 score.
The first 1-0 loss occurred in the initial meeting on April 20. Sanchez allowed the run on just one hit through seven innings spanning 105 pitches. He walked three batters and fanned 10 as a 109 road favorite.
The second 1-0 setback occurred on May 13 when Sanchez allowed just three hits in eight innings spanning 105 pitches as a 155 home favorite.
Ironically, Sanchez finally received some run support in the third matchup (May 18), but was not involved in the decision after allowing four runs on seven hits through six innings spanning 81 pitches. The Giants went on to register a 7-6 victory as 110 road underdogs. The combined 13 runs soared ‘over' the closing six-run total.
The ‘under' is 16-5-1 in the last 22 series meetings between the Padres and Giants, including 6-1-1 this season. However, the ‘over' is 13-6 in San Diego's last 19 overall road outings.
The Padres are 20-11 versus southpaw starters this season and 21-15 in one-run games. They have outscored the opposition 492-388.
The Giants were 24-10 in their last 34 contests prior to Thursday's home game against the Cubs. The Giants are 17-13 against lefty starters and 20-17 in one-run affairs. They are outscoring the opposition 503-420.
San Francisco center fielder Andres Torres is "questionable" for Friday's contest because of a leg
injury.