SF Giants to open up four-game set against sliding Padres

Coming into the 2023 MLB season, the San Diego Padres appeared to be one of the most stacked teams in the league.

After making a blockbuster trade in 2022 that brought star outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego, the Padres turned around and lured former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to Southern California.

With left-hander Blake Snell back for a contract year and MVP candidate Fernando Tatis Jr. returning from a PED suspension, it seemed the stars were aligning for a deep postseason run in San Diego.

Instead of gearing up for the playoffs on August 31st, the Padres will play with their season on the line when the San Francisco Giants arrive at Petco Park on Thursday night.

131 pitches, 1 hit.

Alex Cobb still finished the job 👏 pic.twitter.com/DL8rHmueOs

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 30, 2023

After taking two out of three games from the Cincinnati Reds, the Giants (69-64) have little wiggle room in the National League Wild Card standings.

While San Diego sits 7.5 games behind the third and final Wild Card spot that San Francisco currently possesses, a rough series at Petco Park could spell trouble for the Giants with a month of baseball to go.

Arizona (0.5 GB), Cincinnati (1 GB), and Miami (3 GB) are all within striking distance of San Francisco in the standings, but the Giants can bury the Padres with a series win this weekend. Taking three of four games would put San Diego at a double-digit game deficit, which is essentially a death sentence for teams at this point in the season.

San Francisco rookie left-hander Kyle Harrison will toe the rubber on Saturday night against NL Cy Young hopeful Blake Snell in a marquee matchup of pitching talent, while Alex Cobb will take the ball in the series finale after just missing a no-hitter on Tuesday.

Here are the pitching matchups for this weekend’s action in San Diego:

Giants vs. Padres Pitching Matchups

Petco Park – San Diego, CA

Thursday, August 31st – Sean Manaea (4-5, 5.05) vs. Pedro Avila (0-1, 2.63 ERA) – 6:40 PM PST

Friday, September 1st – Tristan Beck (3-2, 3.52 ERA) vs. Michael Wacha (10-2, 2.84 ERA) – 6:40 PM PST

Saturday, September 2nd – Kyle Harrison (1-0, 1.86) vs. Blake Snell (11-9, 2.60 ERA) – 5:40 PM PST

Sunday, September 3rd – Alex Cobb (7-5, 3.57 ERA) vs. Seth Lugo (5-6, 3.67 ERA) – 1:10 PM PST

*subject to change*

Upcoming San Francisco Giants Schedule

• Thursday, August 31st-Sunday, September 3rd – @ San Diego Padres
• Monday, September 4th-Wednesday, September 6th – @ Chicago Cubs
• Friday, September 8th-Sunday, September 10th – vs. Colorado Rockies
• Monday, September 11th-Wednesday, September 13th – vs. Cleveland Guardians
• Thursday, September 14th-Sunday, September 17th – @ Colorado Rockies

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