Padres attempt to upset Giants again
Ty Blach had a banner season with Class AAA Sacramento. His reward: replacing, if only temporarily 17-game winner Johnny Cueto in the Giants’ rotation.
The rookie lefty will take on San Diego this afternoon, with a 4:40 p.m. ET first pitch at Petco Park. Handicappers at online sports book Bovada.lv lean toward the visitors, while Andy Green’s crew represents a +105 underdog. The over/under run total holds steady at eight.
With Cueto shelved due to groin discomfort, Blach gets to make his first MLB start. The 25-year-old won 14 of his 26 appearances as a member of the Flying Squirrels, posting a 3.43 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 162 2/3 innings. Should he falter, veterans Jake Peavy and Matt Cain provide piggyback options for manager Bruce Bochy.
The Padres, for their own part, are quite confident in lefty Clayton Richard. He’s 3-2 with a 1.88 ERA since Aug. 9 Richard also walked a successful tightrope against San Francisco two weeks ago, scattering 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
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While the Giants enter today’s action tied with New York for the top spot in the National League wild-card race, they only hit southpaws at a .254 clip. Richard’s obviously dealing at the moment, too, so look for San Diego to earn a series split.
SUNDAY MLB FREE PICK: PADRES +1.5
