Diamondbacks daily: Giants’ series to conclude in San Francisco after Saturday’s loss

Sunday’s game: DBacks at Giants, 1:05 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34

The Arizona Diamondbacks look to even the current four-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. The DBacks are coming off Saturday’s 7-3 loss. The teams split the first two games Thursday and Friday.

Sunday pitching matchup: Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (2-0, 2.19) vs. Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (2-0, 1.57).

At Oracle Park: Kelly had to work hard to get through five innings of one-run ball against the Cubs last week at Chase Field, needing 95 pitches despite giving up just three hits and two walks. It was his fourth consecutive start to open the year in which he gave up two runs or less. … Kelly is throwing his slider three times as often as he did last year, and for good reason: He is getting whiffs at a huge rate (44.1 percent) and holding opponents to a .211 average and .263 slugging on the pitch. … He posted a 4.63 ERA in two starts against the Giants last season. … Hicks spent most of the first five seasons in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching in relief the vast majority of the time. He signed with the Giants in the offseason with the intention of converting into a starter, and the transition has gone quite well through four starts. He has worked at least five innings and given up two runs or less each time. … He throws a mid-90s fastball along with a sweeping breaking ball and a splitter. His secondary offerings have been highly effective, limiting contact and inducing big whiff rates.

Up next

Monday: At St. Louis, 4:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 5.32) vs. Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (1-0, 2.18).

Tuesday: At St. Louis, 4:45 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Cardinals LHP Steven Matz (1-1, 3.60).

Wednesday: At St. Louis, 10:15 a.m., Diamondbacks LHP Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 1.50) vs. Cardinals RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 5.04).