Jeff Samardzija takes the ball tonight for the first time this season as the Giants close out the opening series against Arizona. Giants fans have reason to be optimistic as Samardzija was stellar in his final start of spring, throwing five shutout innings and striking out six against Oakland.
The Diamondbacks will send left-hander Robbie Ray to the hill for his first start of 2017. Ray enters his third big league season with and will look to build on his incredible strikeouts per inning ratio from last year when he struck out 218 batters in 174 1/3 innings.
GAME NOTES:
- Samardzija faced the D’backs three times last season and fared pretty well against them, going 2-0. Over 21 2/3 innings he allowed 7 earned runs, struck out 14 and walked just three batters.
- Despite being a lefty, Brandon Belt has done exceptionally well against Robbie Ray. In his career versus Ray, Belt is 3-5 with a double, a triple, and three runs batted in.
- Since the season started Sunday Giants’ left fielders are a combined 0-12 with 10 strikeouts, one walk and one run driven in.
- Jake Lamb of the D’backs has hit Samarzija well in career, going 3-7 with two doubles. Conversely, slugger Paul Goldschmidt has not fared well. In his career he’s 1-11 with three punch outs.
- The first three two in the D’backs lineup last night were a combined 5-8 with two runs, two doubles, and two stolen bases.
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