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SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants begin the unofficial second half of the season facing the Houston Astros behind Madison Bumgarner tonight.
Manager Bruce Bochy has elected to go with Justin Christian, not Gregor Blanco, in right field and leading off.
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Blanco's July on-base percentage is .261, and Christian is 5-for-16 (.313) since being raised to the big league club.
Against the left-handed pitching Wandy Rodriguez, Bochy is tasking the right-handed batting Joaquin Arias at shortstop over Brandon Crawford's left-handed bat.
San Francisco Giants
1. Justin Christian -- RF
2. Ryan Theriot -- 2B
3. Melky Cabrera -- LF
4. Buster Posey -- C
5. Pablo Sandoval -- 3B
6. Angel Pagan -- CF
7. Brandon Belt -- 1B
8. Joaquin Arias -- SS
9. Madison Bumgarner -- LHP
Houston Astros
1. Jose Altuve -- 2B
2. Brian Bixler -- RF
3. Justin Maxwell -- CF
4. J.D. Martinez -- LF
5. Jed Lowrie -- SS
6. Chris Johnson -- 3B
7. Chris Snyder -- C
8. Matt Downs -- 1B
9. Wandy Rodriguez -- LHP