The San Francisco Giants will have another chance to snap their losing streak on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The San Francisco Giants will look to bounce back from a 3-0 series-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. Here is what you should know:
The Records
Things have not been easy for the Giants lately as they find themselves in a four-game skid after Friday’s loss to the Rays that has dropped them to 13-19 on the year.
Don Strouble/Roundtable SportsSan Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers on the field at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday. Friday’s loss also brings San Francisco to 6-10 in road games. Meanwhile, the Rays have found a rhythm and are winners of seven of their last eight games.
Additionally, Tampa Bay possesses one of the best home records in the American League at 9-4. Heading into Saturday’s slate of games, the Detroit Tigers hold the best record at home in the AL at 10-3.
The Pitching Matchup
The Giants will give the starting nod to Landen Roupp, who is coming off his fourth winning decision in a row after the Giants defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 on April 26. In the win, Roupp struck out six batters while allowing two hits, three earned runs, and two walks while throwing 103 pitches over 7 ⅔ innings.
The win improved Roupp to 5-1 on the year, which is the best record among San Francisco's starters. He is also third on the team in strikeouts with 37.
Meanwhile, the Rays will hand the ball to Griffin Jax. The 31-year-old has appeared in 12 games (one start) and has a 1-2 record with a 6.35 ERA over 11 ⅓ innings of work.
In his last appearance, Jax pitched 2 ⅓ innings and logged two strikeouts while allowing one hit and one walk.
What, and Who, Needs to Improve?
On Friday, the Giants were at the mercy of Shane McClanahan and three Rays relievers who followed him. The Giants were able to notch five hits off McClanahan, but they also struck out five times during his six innings on the mound.
Once McClanahan's evening finished, San Francisco only mustered one hit the rest of the game to finish 6-for-30 at the plate with seven strikeouts. It was also the seventh time this season the Giants have been shutout.
Don Strouble/Roundtable SportsSan Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers is in the batter's box on Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Against Jax, who has allowed eight runs through his 11 ⅓ innings pitched, San Francisco needs to find a way to capitalize. The defense did its job, and it is time for the offense to match that effort.
It will also be worth monitoring if key players like Rafael Devers can contribute to get the Giants out of their slump. Devers went 1-for-3 at the plate on Friday with a strikeout, and he holds a .210/.250/.290 slash line this season with a .540 OPS through 32 games, the lowest marks of his career.
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