Jeff Samardzija to start Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader

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.

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.