Shaking up the lineup did not have the desired effect for San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin, whose team has lost a season-high four straight games.
Melvin will look for other solutions when the Giants continue a three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
The Giants have scored one run each in three of their past four games, including a 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday. Willy Adames doubled for San Francisco’s lone extra-base hit against the National League West rival.
Melvin made a number of changes to the starting lineup on Monday, which included Jung Hoo Lee serving as the cleanup hitter and slumping first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. being held out of the lineup.
Wade is batting .145 with one home run and 13 RBIs on the season. He hit .260 in 2024.
“For a guy who has had as much success as he’s had, this is really hard,” Melvin said. “The longer it goes on, the harder it is. Just trying to get him a mental break, and that’s why he (was rested Monday).”
Arizona right fielder Corbin Carroll provided all the offense his team would need with a pair of solo homers off Justin Verlander in the series opener. Carroll’s 13 homers are one behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the major league lead.
The Diamondbacks recalled top prospect Jordan Lawlar from Triple-A Reno prior to Monday’s game, and the infielder could see his first action on Tuesday. Lawlar is expected to see playing time at third base, shortstop and second base.
“I just want to be here and help the team win any way, method that I can be called on to do,” Lawlar said. “Whenever they call on me, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (6-2, 3.28 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona on Tuesday. He struck out six over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers last Thursday.
The 26-year-old Pfaadt bounced back after giving up seven runs (six earned) over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 3.
“Tremendous job from Brandon,” Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno said after the win over Los Angeles. “His location was great. Everywhere I asked for the ball, the pitch was there.”
Wade is 2-for-8 with a home run against Pfaadt, who is 0-2 with a 3.68 ERA in three career starts versus San Francisco.
The Giants will counter with left-hander Robbie Ray (5-0, 2.84), who has allowed a total of five runs across 25 innings over his past four starts.
Ray extended his unbeaten streak to eight consecutive starts to begin the season last Wednesday. He allowed one run over six innings in the 3-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.
“When he takes the mound, we feel like we have a really good chance,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He seems to be getting better as the season goes along, even though he’s been pretty good all season.”
Eugenio Suarez is 3-for-9 with a homer against Ray, who pitched for Arizona from 2015-2020. He is making his first career start versus his former team.
–Field Level Media
