The set-up: The San Francisco Giants opened their three-game IL series with the Angels by taking Friday night's game 8-1. Jeff Samardzija came off the disabled list and tossed five scoreless innings in Friday's 8-1 victory, but the real story was San Francisco's sudden power surge. The Giants had scored a total of only six runs over their previous four games (1-3) but Mac Williamson hit a two-run HR in his season debut on Friday plus Nick Hundley and Andrew McCutchen each homered .They provided a much-needed boost for the Giants' offense, which entered the game hitting .154 (19-for-123) with runners in scoring position. The Angels have lost four in a row following a seven-game winning streak and need more production from right fielder Kole Calhoun, who was dropped to eighth in the order Friday and is hitting .192 after going hitless in three at-bats. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (.342 / 3 HRs / 11 RBI) had two singles while batting sixth and hopes to take the mound on Monday after leaving his last outing early with a blister on his right middle finger.

The pitching matchup: The Giants will send lefty Derek Holland (0-2, 4.60 ERA) to the mound while the Angels counter with Garrett Richards (2-0, 3.60 ERA). Holland is making his fourth start for the Giants (team is 0-3) and he's seeking his first win with his latest team, after allowing three runs over 4 2/3 innings against San Diego last Saturday in a 5-4 team loss (he took a no-decision). The 31-year-old has appeared in more games against the Angels than any other team over his career, going 10-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). Richards struggled with his control again last Saturday against Kansas City but earned the win after giving up one run on one hit over five-plus innings. The injury-plagued 29-year-old has walked at least three batters in each of his first four starts while striking out 24 across 20 innings (Angels are 3-1 in his 2018 starts). Richards has never faced the Giants but is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA in 18 career interleague games (11 starts) and has limited Austin Jackson to one hit in 15 at-bats.

The pick: San Francisco is 7-2 this season when scoring first and 1-9 in games their opponent scores first. If LA can score first....Sure, the Angels have been outscored 35-4 during their four-game losing streak but the team was off to a 13-3 prior to that. The bottom line here is that Holland has been less that impressive in his first three starts and Richards will face a SF lineup that comes in averaging only 3.11 RPG, ranking 29th of 30 MLB teams. Make the LAA a 6* play.