Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2019 ) Colorado 8, San Francisco 5

When the San Francisco Giants’ brain trust meets this winter to set the agenda for next season, winning at home figures to be atop the list. The Giants, who are 33-43 at Oracle Park this season, look to improve that record on Wednesday, when they continue their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies won Tuesday’s opener 8-5 in 16 innings after Charlie Blackmon belted a three-run homer in a game that lasted 5 hours, 31 minutes and saw the teams combine to use a major league-record 25 pitchers. Garrett Hampson blasted two home runs while Ian Desmond and Trevor Story also went deep for Colorado, which won for just the eighth time in its last 36 road games. San Francisco has dropped four of its last five contests and clinched its third consecutive losing season with Tuesday’s defeat. Buster Posey, Evan Longoria and Madison Bumgarner each homered in the loss while Kevin Pillar was hitless in seven at-bats.

TV: 9:45 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Tim Melville (2-3, 5.40 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (11-12, 3.64)

Melville lost his second straight start last Tuesday, when he allowed four runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings against the New York Mets. The 29-year-old rookie has given up seven home runs over his last two starts after allowing two over his first four. Melville, who will be making his first career start against San Francisco, owns a 2-0 record and 2.13 ERA in his two previous road starts versus Arizona and San Diego.

Samardzija took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and helped manager Bruce Bochy earn his 2,000th victory in last Wednesday’s 11-3 win over Boston. The 34-year-old native of Indiana has solidified his spot in next season’s rotation by allowing fewer than two runs in seven of his last 11 starts. Daniel Murphy (10-for-22, one home run) and Nolan Arenado (13-for-40) have fared well against Samardzija, who is 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 20 career games (16 starts) versus Colorado.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arenado is one home run shy of the career-high 42 he hit in 2015.

2. Longoria is one of nine active players in the majors with 10 seasons of 20-plus home runs.

3. Colorado RHP Jeff Hoffman was taken off on a cart Tuesday after getting struck in the right knee by a comebacker and will be re-evaluated on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Rockies 4