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The San Francisco Giants are welcoming back a familiar name for Friday’s doubleheader against the San Diego Padres: Jeff Samardzija.
Samardzija has been activated as the 29th player on the roster, which is a single day roster exception granted to teams playing doubleheaders. And he’ll start the second game, after Tyler Anderson starts the first.
Jeff Samardzija has been named the Giants' 29th man for today's doubleheader. He will start Game 2.
— Maria I. Guardado (@mi_guardado) September 25, 2020
Samardzija had a horrendous start to the year, before being placed on the Injured List after his Aug. 7 start. He made 3 starts, and ended up allowing 18 hits (including 6 home runs), 4 walks, and 15 earned runs in just 13.2 innings, while only striking out 5. One of those starts was against the Padres, when the veteran right-hander gave up 5 earned runs in 4 innings.
He’s pitched a good number of simulation starts in the last few weeks, so his arm should have the strength to go deep into the seven-inning game. That’s good, since the Giants bullpen isn’t very well rested at the moment, and they’re playing multiple games today.
It’s a bit funny that the Giants are going to end up having to put a good chunk of their postseason dreams in Samardzija’s hands, in what is quite likely his final appearance in a Giants jersey.
Let’s all hope it’s a memorable one.