Giants to start Samardzija in NLDS Game 2 vs. Cubs
Jeff Samardzija will get to start a postseason game at Wrigley Field after all.
San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced Friday the right-hander will start Game 2 of their National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. He'll face Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks.
"It's his day," Bochy said. "He's earned it."
Bochy added that, following this start, Samardzjia will shift to a relief role for the remainder of the NLDS.
Samardzija began his career with the Cubs and spent parts of seven seasons on the North Side before being traded to Oakland as part of the team's rebuild in July 2014. That trade netted Chicago their All-Star shortstop Addison Russell.
The 31-year-old Samardzija signed with the Giants as a free agent this past winter and posted a 3.81 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, and 167 strikeouts in 32 starts this season.
Bochy also announced that left-hander Matt Moore will get the start in a potential Game 4, should the series go that far.