Miami @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2019 ) Miami 4, San Francisco 2

Oracle Park has not been kind to the San Francisco Giants, who sit 10 games under .500 at their picturesque ballpark after losing 10 of their last 13 at home. The Giants look to get untracked Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins.

Miami snapped its five-game losing streak with Saturday’s 4-2 victory as Jorge Alfaro belted a two-run homer off Madison Bumgarner and Miguel Rojas doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning. Jose Urena recorded his second save in three opportunities for the Marlins, who improved to 21-12 at Oracle Park since 2010. San Francisco has lost five of its last seven games but received a spark on Saturday from rookie Mauricio Dubon, who went 3-for-4 with a run and figures prominently in the team’s plans for next season. Closer Will Smith has been unavailable for the past week due to back tightness but threw a successful bullpen session before Saturday’s game and could return in the series finale.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (3-5, 5.24 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (1-0, 0.00)

Hernandez settled for his third straight no-decision after allowing three runs and four hits over five innings against Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Venezuelan is 3-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 11 games (seven starts) at home this season compared to 0-3 with a 6.55 mark in nine contests (seven starts) on the road. Hernandez is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in three career relief appearances versus San Francisco.

Cueto made a triumphant return from Tommy John surgery on Tuesday, holding Pittsburgh to one hit over five scoreless innings in his first major-league start since July 28, 2018. “It’s clear evidence that this man really worked hard,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “You see him, he’s in tremendous shape. He was very determined to come back.” Neil Walker is 9-for-48 with two homers against Cueto, who is 4-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 10 career starts versus Miami.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins OF Garrett Cooper missed Saturday’s game due to a left knee contusion and is listed as day-to-day.

2. San Francisco purchased the contract of INF Cristhian Adames and recalled OF Mike Gerber from Triple-A Sacramento.

3. Miami claimed LHP Josh Smith off waivers from Cleveland and announced he will join the team in Arizona on Monday.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Marlins 3