Game Thread: Trevor Williams looks to keep the studliness rolling by The Bay

Trevor Williams (7-6, 5.16) is scheduled to take the mound at 9:45 p.m. Eastern on Monday as the Pirates start a week long road trip with four games in San Francisco. The Giants will counter with veteran left-hander Madison Bumgarner (9-8, 3.81)

The 29 year old Bumgarner’s 3.81 ERA is the worst of his eleven year career, but still, it’s only 3.81. After non missing a start over his first seven seasons, Bumgarner managed only 17 starts in 2017 and 21 in 2018 as he battled shoulder injuries, but returned to a full workload this year, with a fastball velocity of 91.7 that is the highest of his career, en route to 1.8 walks and 8.9 strikeouts per every nine innings.

Bumgarner lost to the Pirates on April 19 in Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on six hits in six innings. He served up six runs to the Cardinals in five innings his last time out, although that was preceded by a run of five starts with a 2.25 ERA in 32 innings.

Bumgarner is very tough on left-handed hitters, allowing just a .547 OPS on a 196/226/320 batting line, walking just five of 161 batters with a k-rate of 29.8% He’s been more human when facing right-handers, with a .756 OPS on a 258/306/450 line, including 21 home runs. He’ll face all righties in the Pirates’ starting lineup.

Williams has shown signs of returning to form, allowing five runs in nineteen innings over his last three starts, after posting an 8.03 ERA in his first ten starts after coming off the disabled list with a right side strain, including a disastrous stretch where he allowed at least five runs in the last three of those ten. In his most recent three starts, Williams has walked just two while fanning fifteen.

Williams has pitched well enough against right-handers, with a .761 OPS allowed on a 247/296/465 line, but has been destroyed by lefties to the tune of a .930 OPS (332/377/553). He’ll face three left-handed bats in the Giants’ lineup.

Center fielder Starling Marte is out of the lineup after rolling over his left arm on a diving catch late in Sunday’s game. Bryan Reynolds will slide over to center from left, with Pablo Reyes starting in left field.

In order to remove all left-handed bats from the lineup, Cole Tucker is in at shortstop with Kevin Newman moving over to second to replace Adam Frazier, and Erik Gonzalez gets the nod at third over Colin Moran.

Josh Bell is also out of the lineup, with Jose Osuna at first base and Melky Cabrera in right field.

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PIRATES

1 R Kevon Newman 2B

2 S Bryan Reynolds CF

3 S Melky Cabrera RF

4 R Jose Osuna 1B

5 R Pablo Reyes LF

6 R Jacob Stallings C

7 S Cole Tucker SS

8 R Erik Gonzalez 3B

9 R Trevor Williams RHP

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GIANTS

1 L Mike Yastrzemski LF

2 R Buster Posey C

3 L Brandon Belt 1B

4 R Evan Longoria 3B

5 R Kevin Pillar CF

6 L Brandon Crawford SS

7 R Jaylin Davis RF

8 R Mauricio Dubon 2B

9 R Madison Bumgarner LHP