Series Preview: SF Giants vs. D-backs - details and how to watch

The NL West race heats up as the SF Giants face the Arizona Diamondbacks for a four-game series this week.

The dog days have arrived. As the SF Giants turn the page to August, they'll face a pair of tough challenges to start the week. On one side, the August 1 trade deadline, where the Giants will have to make decisions whose consequences will ripple through the franchise for years to come. On the other, the Diamondbacks, who would love nothing more than to turn around a July slump by clawing their way over San Francisco for sole possession of second place in the NL West.

Both teams have struggled in the month of July, and are looking to reassert themselves in a crowded NL West. But whereas the Giants have managed to keep afloat, the Diamondbacks have had an absolutely putrid month, going 7-16 around the All-Star Break. It's been pitching woes galore for Arizona, as after Zac Gallen, they have little reliability. In a four-game series, that's an opportunity for San Francisco.

But the Giants haven't quite jumped on the opportunities presented this month. It's been the same story for weeks on end - decent pitching, and an offense that can't hit a lick. Unless they score in the double digits on Monday, they'll end the month with the worst team offensive month of any team 2023. Wilmer Flores is hitting .394 with a 1.147 OPS, Blake Sabol trails him with an .892 OPS, and Luis Matos is at least hitting for average (.294). Other than that, there's a lot of struggle going on. 9 players are hitting .205 or worse on the month. There isn't a lineup in baseball that's more glad to see the calendar shift to August than this one. 

Series Details

Who: SF Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California 
When: July 31 - August 3, Monday (6:45 PM), Tuesday (6:45 PM), Wednesday (6:45 PM), and Thursday (12:45 PM). All times Pacific.

Giants' current streak: W2, 4-6 in last 10. 58-48 overall, 2nd place in NL West (2.0 GB)

Dbacks' current streak: L1, 3-7 in last 10. 56-50 overall, 3rd place in NL West

Projected starters

Monday: Alex Cobb (6-3, 2.97 ERA) vs. Ryne Nelson (6-5, 4.97 ERA)

Tuesday: Alex Wood* (5-4, 4.75 ERA) vs. Zac Gallen (11-5, 3.36 ERA)

Wednesday: TBD vs. TBD

Thursday: TBD vs. Brandon Pfaadt (0-4, 8.20 ERA)

*Indicates LHP

**Indicates opener

How to watch, listen

• SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
• Opposing broadcast: AZ Diamondbacks, 98.7 FM/KQMR Latino 100.3 FM
• National broadcasts: none
• Live stream: fuboTV (start your free trial)