After struggling for much of the season, the San Francisco Giants are making a late push in the National League wild-card race.
The Giants (71-69) have won 10 of their last 11 games heading into their weekend series against the Cardinals (70-71), beginning Friday night in St. Louis.
A power surge helped turn the Giants’ season around. They have hit at least one homer in 17 straight games while totaling 36 during that span.
“It’s better late than never, I guess,” Giants third baseman Matt Chapman said. “It’s been a lot of fun. We obviously hit a rough patch. But I feel like we’re really coming into our own right now and playing good baseball. We’re really just trying to keep it rolling.”
Chapman hit two homers Wednesday as the Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 10-8 to complete a three-game sweep. That victory left the Giants four games behind the New York Mets for the final wild-card slot.
Since he played Wednesday after appealing his one-game suspension for his involvement in Tuesday night’s fracas with the Rockies, Chapman may not be available for Friday’s game against the Cardinals.
“It’s obviously unfortunate that I have to get suspended, probably, but we wanted to appeal it and see what we can do,” Chapman said. “I wanted to be out there and help this team no matter what. Every game is super important for us. The fact that I was able to be out there and make an impact was huge.”
The Giants will start Carson Seymour (0-2, 4.74 ERA), who has been deployed as an opener this season. San Francisco has lost nine of his 11 appearances this season.
In his last outing, Seymour allowed four runs on five hits, including two homers, and two walks in an 11-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
This will be his first career appearance against the Cardinals, who have won five of their last seven games coming into this series. They are 5 1/2 games out of the final NL wild-card spot.
The Cardinals will start Michael McGreevy (6-2, 4.17 ERA), who is coming off one of his best starts of the season.
Despite failing to strike out a batter, he held the Cincinnati Reds to one run on five hits in six innings in a 4-2 road victory. He induced 14 grounders from the Reds.
“When in doubt, spam the sinker,” McGreevy said. “Keep the ball down. Definitely a small park. Definitely stays in the back of your mind: You want to keep the ball on the ground. Definitely made the defense work.”
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol saw further growth from McGreevy during his first extended run in the majors.
“He mixed well,” Marmol said. “Made pitches. Got ahead. Just a ton of ground-ball outs. Lived on the ground. Threw anything, everything in any count. Kept them off balance. When needed, he made the big pitch.”
Last season, McGreevy earned a 6-1 victory over the Giants while holding them to the one run on five hits in eight innings. He struck out six and walked none.
The Cardinals could get catcher Yohel Pozo back from the seven-day concussion list for this series. In his absence, prospect Jimmy Crooks has been backing up No. 1 catcher Pedro Pages.