With Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks taking the hill in Game 2 of the NLDS, Giants manager Bruce Bochy is sticking to script, putting left-handed hitters Denard Span and Joe Panik back into the lineup.
Span and Panik replace Gorkys Hernandez and Kelby Tomlinson who got the nod in Game 1 against left-hander Jon Lester. The two went a combined 1-for-7 in Friday’s loss, with Hernandez’s game opening bunt single as the lone hit.
Hendricks, who’s 2.13 ERA lead the major leagues in 2016, was dominant against both righties and lefties this season, but Panik has had good success in a small sample size against him, going 2-for-3 with a double. Brandon Belt has hit Hendrix the best of those in tonight’s lineup, going 3-for-7 with a triple and a home run.
Hendrix allowed one run through five and 1/3 innings in his only appearance against the Giants in 2016. Overall the Giants hitters have solid career numbers against Hendrix, with a line of .295/.354/.500 in 44 career at-bats.
Jeff Samardzija faces Hendrix and his former team Saturday night, making his first ever postseason start. Samardzija had a forgettable performance at Wrigley on September first, allowing three runs in four innings of work, needing 47 pitches to get out of the fist frame.
Here are the lineups:
San Francisco Giants:
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
3. Buster Posey (R) C
4. Hunter Pence (R) RF
5. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
6. Angel Pagan (S) LF
7. Conor Gillaspie (L) 3B
8. Joe Panik (L) 2B
9. Jeff Samardzija (R) P
Chicago Cubs:
1. Dexter Fowler (S) CF
2. Kris Bryant (R) 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
4. Ben Zobrist (S) LF
5. Addison Russell (R) SS
6. Jason Heyward (L) RF
7. Javier Baez (R) 2B
8. Willson Contreras (R) C
9. Kyle Hendricks (R) P
