SAN FRANCISCO — Two teams expecting key pitchers to be ready for their regular duties clash Saturday afternoon when the St. Louis Cardinals and San
Francisco Giants lock horns for the third time in their four-game series.
The clubs have split the first two games
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better of a pitchers’ duel in a 3-2 victory on Friday.
Two days after watching Johnny Cueto get rocked in his return from the disabled list, Jeff Samardzija is expected to make his first start for the
Giants since May 29.
Samardzija (1-4, 6.56) struggled through pectoral and shoulder soreness in April and May before being shelved.
“I always willed myself through little injuries and pains here and there along the way,” Samardzija told SFGate.com. “I thought with a little break, I’d
be fine. It just ended up being an uphill battle the whole time. We feel back to
normal.”
He pitched well against the Cardinals last season, allowing a total of one run and seven hits in 15 innings in two starts
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He didn’t get a decision in either game, both of which the Giants won.
Samardzija has faced the Cardinals 23 times in his career, 12 times as a starter, and has a 4-4 record with a 3.68 ERA.
The veteran’s return means the Giants will have their three top guns — Madison Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija — in the rotation at the same time for
the first time this season.
Samardzija will be opposed by Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez (5-4, 3.20), who is coming off consecutive strong outings against Cleveland and
Arizona
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He will be pitching in San Francisco for just the second time in his career, having allowed one run in five innings in a Cardinals win in 2014.
Martinez is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in his career against the Giants in five games, including three starts.
The 26-year-old has dominated his head-to-heads with several of the Giants’ top hitters, including Buster Posey (1-for-9, .111) and Andrew McCutchen
(7-for-39, .179). McCutchen delivered the eventual game-winning hit in Friday’s
San Francisco win.
