Giants' Anderson looks to give bullpen relief in finale vs. Mets

An overworked New York Mets bullpen received a much-needed night off Wednesday thanks to a complete-game effort from an unlikely member of the starting rotation. If the San Francisco Giants are to win the rubber game of the three-game series Thursday afternoon, they'll need Shaun Anderson to prove the bullpen-sparing effort he authored in his previous start was no fluke.

Anderson will look to earn his second big league win Thursday when the Giants visit the Mets in a matinee at Citi Field. Anderson (1-1, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to oppose the Mets' Zack Wheeler (5-3, 4.68) in a battle of right-handers.

The Mets won the middle game of the series Wednesday night when Jason Vargas -- the oldest member of New York's rotation and the lone soft-tosser -- twirled a five-hit shutout in a 7-0 victory. It was the first shutout and complete game since June 2, 2017 for Vargas, who threw more than six innings just once in his first eight starts this year.

Vargas' gem helped the Mets snap a three-game losing streak in which their relievers posted a 13.00 ERA over nine innings. New York's bullpen entered Wednesday with the fourth-highest ERA (5.10) in the National League.

"I think any night that we can get the starter to finish a game, the team's going to need that," Vargas told reporters after the game. "I think that gives everybody a boost in morale."

Anderson did that for the Giants last Saturday, when he made his fourth major league start and won for the first time by allowing two runs over a career-high seven innings as the Giants beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2. The outing by Anderson snapped a 40-game streak in which no San Francisco pitcher lasted seven innings -- the franchise's longest streak in at least the last 100 years.

"He just pitched well," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters last Saturday. "It was good to see that. We haven't had a lot of those, to be honest. The 'pen could have used a big break today, and he allowed us to do that. He just did a terrific job."

The Giants' bullpen will likely need a break Thursday after throwing seven innings in the first two games of the series. Long reliever Derek Holland got the final three outs in Tuesday's 9-3, 10-inning win before tossing the final two innings Wednesday night.

Wheeler earned the win in his previous start last Friday, when he allowed four runs over seven innings as the Mets edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4. It was the third straight start in which Wheeler lasted at least seven innings and the seventh time he's done so in his last nine starts.

Anderson has never faced the Mets. Wheeler, who was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2009 draft and dealt to New York in exchange for Carlos Beltran on July 28, 2011, is 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco.

--Field Level Media