Erik Miller vs. Justin Steele.
And so begins a new series. A new series that we desperately hope is better than the last series. And the one before it. And the one before it.
The San Francisco Giants are kicking off a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, and the good news is the last time the Giants won a game it was against the Cubs. So I guess that’s good, especially if you ignore the fact that 40% of the Giants current five-game losing streak came against the Cubs.
It’s a bullpen game for the Giants, and you can expect a lot of those this week, which I’m sure you’re stoked about. Lefty Erik Miller is serving as the opener and making his 37th appearance of the year. The rookie is 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA, a 4.63 FIP, and 40 strikeouts to 17 walks in 35 innings. He’s been an opener six times, and given up one run in 6.2 innings. Righty Spencer Howard is expected to serve in a bulk innings role, and in five games this year he is 0-1 with a 4.86 ERA, a 3.81 FIP, and 13 strikeouts to eight walks in 16.2 innings.
For the Cubs it’s lefty Justin Steele, who makes his 11th start of the year. Curiously, Steele is still looking for his first win of the season, as he is 0-3 despite a 3.16 ERA, a 3.50 FIP, and 56 strikeouts to 15 walks in 57 innings (Matt Cain would be proud). His last game came against the Giants, when he held San Francisco to two runs in 6.2 innings, and he’s allowed just four earned runs (albeit with six unearned runs) in his last five starts, totaling 31.2 innings.
The Giants are stacking the right side of the batter’s box against Steele, who has held lefties to just a .510 OPS against him, with righties sporting a .650 OPS. All nine of the batters in the Giants lineup hit right-handed.
Enjoy the game! Go Giants! Win! Please! Seriously! We love you, Willie Mays!
Lineups
Giants
- Austin Slater (R) — RF — 92 OPS+
- Heliot Ramos (R) — CF — 157 OPS+
- Wilmer Flores (R) — 1B — 83 OPS+
- Jorge Soler (R) — DH — 107 OPS+
- Matt Chapman (R) — 3B — 102 OPS+
- Thairo Estrada (R) — 2B — 91 OPS+
- Luis Matos (R) — LF — 65 OPS+
- Curt Casali (R) — C — 93 OPS+
- Nick Ahmed (R) — SS — 69 OPS+
P. Erik Miller — LHP — 4.11 ERA/4.63 FIP
Cubs
- Nico Hoerner (R) — 2B — 85 OPS+
- Seiya Suzuki (R) — RF — 119 OPS+
- Cody Bellinger (L) — DH — 115 OPS+
- Christopher Morel (R) — 3B — 96 OPS+
- Ian Happ (S) — LF — 109 OPS+
- Dansby Swanson (R) — SS — 83 OPS+
- Michael Busch (L) — 1B — 128 OPS+
- Tomás Nido (R) — C — 80 OPS+
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) — CF — 53 OPS+
P. Justin Steele — LHP — 3.16 ERA/3.50 FIP
Game #79
Who: San Francisco Giants (36-42) vs. Chicago Cubs (37-41)
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
When: 6:45 p.m. PT
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)
National broadcast: n/a
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM