Padres have big role in final days of NL West race
CHICAGO — Over the past few months, the Giants and Dodgers settled into the top two spots in the NL West, almost in lockstep a game or two apart.
Now the Padres get a chance to have a say in the division because of a lot of head-to-head games against the Giants. The clubs will play 10 times over the final three weeks, and while San Diego is 181⁄2 games behind San Francisco in the division, the Padres certainly could knock the Giants off their perch if they play well. Plus, San Diego is in a dogfight with the Reds for the second wild-card spot, with St. Louis, Philadelphia and even the Mets still in the hunt.
San Francisco hasn’t faced the Padres since early May, but San Diego arrives at Oracle Park for a four-game series that starts Monday. The Padres were a popular pick to finish first or second in the division entering the season.
“They’re one of the more talented teams in baseball,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “They’re well-managed, they’re going to be prepared, and we’re going to have to play really good baseball to win those games.”
The Giants will enter the series with yet another bullpen game, and Dominic Leone is again a good option to open Monday. Anthony DeSclafani will start Tuesday’s game, and Wednesday’s game is TBA — but Kapler said that Scott Kazmir would be held out of his scheduled start at Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday and will throw a bullpen session Monday, an indication that Kazmir might be recalled as part of a bullpen game this week. Kevin Gausman would be on turn to start Thursday.
Kazmir, 37, a three-time All-Star making his second career comeback, appeared in three games with the Giants earlier this season before going on to win a silver medal with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Giants are 5-4 against the Padres, who have outscored them 33-31. Buster Posey will get Monday night off after catching three games in a row at Chicago, but shortstop Brandon Crawford is expected to be back in the lineup after sitting Sunday with some wrist soreness. Kapler said Crawford was available had he been needed.
Briefly: Austin Slater (concussion) and Wilmer Flores (hamstring) came off the IL and were in Sunday’s lineup . ... To make room on the roster, relievers John Brebbia and Caleb Baragar were optioned out. Baragar earned a three-inning save in Saturday’s game at Wrigley Field.