The set-up: The Giants have struggled since the All Star break and it was more of the same on Tuesday. After a great comeback win Monday night, the Giants were shut out 2-0 last night, producing only three hits (note: Brandon Crawford has seven hits himself, in Monday's 14-inning win). San Francisco has now blown all of its pre-All Star game lead in the NL West, as the Giants and Dodgers are both 64-49. The 60-53 Marlins own the No.2 wild card spot in the NL (four games back of either the Dodgers or Giants, while leading the Cards by just one game and the Mets and Pirates by 2 1/2 games).

The pitching matchup: Jeff Samardzija (9-8, 4.40 ERA) takes the mound for San Francisco and David Phelps (5-5, 2.45 ERA) gets the ball for the Marlins. Samardzija has all the pitches but once again, his record never seems to match his talent (maybe it's perceived talent?). He lost his third straight start the last time out (Friday at Washington), allowing five ERs over seven innings of a 5-1 defeat. So what else is new? Samardzija has allowed at least four runs in seven of his last eight outings, going 1-4 mark with a 7.19 ERA in that span (Giants are 2-6, having lost his last four starts). David Phelps began his career with the NY Yankees back in 2012 and throughout his career, he's been used as a starter (60) and as a reliever (101). His role for Miami in 2016 has been that of a set-up man and after three straight years of ERAs well over 4.00, Phelps had a 2.65 ERA in 50 relief appearances, before making his first start of this season on August 5.

The pick: Phelps had a strong effort in that first start, scattering four hits on 70 pitches over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Colorado (Marlins won 5-3). Phelps is back in a starting role again this afternoon, taking the ball in Wednesday's rubber match of the series. San Francisco has now lost 16 of 23 since the All-Star break and that slide doesn't figure to end this afternoon, behind the struggling Samardzija. 8* play on Miami.