Once upon a time, it was a rule around here — kinda, anyway — that if you hit a homer, you’re in the lineup the next day.

That’s not why Jase Bowen is in left field against Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle over Gavin Sheets for Saturday’s 5:40 p.m. game.

Not that a homer and a two-hit game hurt the 25-year-old’s case for a third straight day in the lineup.

“It’s not my rule,” Stammen said with a laugh. “But it’s been a rule of late.”

Stammen added: “Sheets is good. The starting pitcher has reverse splits and Jase’s swings have been better lately, so it’s a combination of that. Then we can bring Sheets off the bench in big spots.”

Saturday starters. pic.twitter.com/KCXL62PAUH

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 1, 2026

While Sheets carried the team at times this year, he’s seen his OPS drop from .861 in May to .715 in June to .481 in July. He’s far better against right-handers this year (.768 OPS) than lefties (.459), but, as Stammen said, Mahle is allowing an .855 OPS to right-handed hitters and a .702 to lefties.

So Bowen is starting a third straight game in left field. He is hitting .167/.206/.250 over 63 plate appearances across 40 games since his call-up from Triple-A El Paso, but he was 2-for-4 with a home run that he envisioned in his sleep the night before, as detailed in Kevin Acee’s newsletter this morning.

“Yeah, I think this is definitely new for me,” Bowen said of coming off the bench. “But I show up every day and get my work in. All these guys treat me just like I’m an everyday starter, so that definitely helps. Just continuing to learn from them and stay ready for when my number’s called.”

Like Stammen, Bowen might also have a new rule. Not only did he dream of the home run the night before, he carried a small, squishy Jesusin the pocket of his sliding pants for the first time. It was given to him while he played for El Paso earlier this season.

“I think it’s going to be a new thing,” Bowen said late Friday night.

Bowen (.456 OPS) will bat ninth as he has the last three games. Meantime, second baseman Jake Cronenworth (.592 OPS) is back in the two-hole against the right-handed Mahle, while Luis Rengifo (.629 OPS) will serve as the DH and bat sixth.

Freddy Fermin (.537 OPS) will bat eighth and catch right-hander Walker Buehler.

Here is how the Giants will line up for Game 3 of the series:

Today’s #SFgiants: pic.twitter.com/ruKjMiFP2u

— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) August 1, 2026

 

Notable

RHPs Joe Musgrove (Tommy John) and Nick Pivetta (flexor) both threw bullpens as part of a five-day schedule aimed at beginning a rehab assignment Tuesday. The Padres have not announced where they will pitch.
RHP David Morgan (left knee) threw a rehab game in the Arizona “bridge league” on Thursday and is expecting to pitch on Sunday for Triple-A El Paso.

 

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Giants RHP Tyler Mahle (3-9, 4.96 ERA)

The 31-year-old is coming off six shutout innings for his second quality start in his last three trips to the mound (2.00 ERA). Mahle has a 4.19 ERA in four career starts against the Padres, but he has not faced them since a loss in 2022 (5⅓ IP, 3 ER).

Here is how Mahle has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.13 ERA)

He’s got a 3.27 ERA while winning his last two starts (11 IP) after stumbling through his first three starts in July (16.36 ERA, 11 IP). Buehler has a 3.25 ERA in 80⅓ career innings against the Giants, but he has allowed seven runs in 9 ⅓ innings in two starts (1-1) this year against San Francisco.

Here is how Buehler has fared against current Giants: