SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Jack Flaherty returns to the scene of his major league debut last September when he closes out a four-game series for the St. Louis Cardinals against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon.

Flaherty (3-4 Authentic Sampo Ranta Jersey , 3.19 ERA) will attempt not only to give the Cardinals a 3-1 win in the four-game series but to reward manager Mike Matheny with his fifth series win in seven return visits to San Francisco, where he played the final two years of his career.

Matheny has never lost a series as a manager in San Francisco, winning four and tying the other two. He is assured of at least a tie in this one as well, with the Cardinals having posted 11-2 and 3-2 wins sandwiching a 3-2 loss on Friday night.

Flaherty was just 21 years old when he debuted for the Cardinals last Sept. 1 in an 11-6 win in San Francisco.

He did not get credit for the win, going only four innings, during which he was roughed up for five runs and eight hits. He’s thus 0-0 with an 11.25 ERA against the Giants.

Brandon Crawford doubled and homered against Flaherty, and Hunter Pence lashed a two-run triple.

The California native will be seeking to snap a two-game losing streak. He has allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 10 innings in losses to Cleveland and Arizona.

Flaherty will be backed by a Cardinals defense that has been superb against the Giants, having committed just one error in the three games. That lone miscue was an errant throw by backup catcher Francisco Pena on a steal attempt.

“That’s kind of the initiative we have going on right now: bolstering our defense,” Matheny noted Saturday. “Let’s play a cleaner defensive game. And then hope that we get contributions offensively. Let’s figure out ways to make sure we’re catching the ball to help reinforce the great starts that we’ve been getting.”

Luke Weaver, John Gant and Carlos Martinez have provided that pitching in San Francisco. The Giants have totaled just seven runs in the series, extending to six games their streak of scoring three or fewer.

Martinez even contributed an RBI double to Saturday’s win.

The Giants have hit a cumulative .167 in their last six games, five of which they’ve lost.

San Francisco will be counting on ace Madison Bumgarner (1-3, 2.58) to contribute both on the mound and at the plate in the series finale.

The Giants have supported their pitching leader with just 14 runs in his six starts. He hasn’t helped his own cause; the slugger with 17 career homers has gone 0-for-14 so far this season.

The left-hander has pitched brilliantly in his last three starts, allowing just three runs (two of which were earned) and 12 hits in 21 innings.

Bumgarner often has not been at his best against the Cardinals in his career http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/clay-matthews-jersey , going 3-5 with a 4.38 ERA in eight starts. He hasn’t beaten St. Louis since 2014.

One player who has never figured out Bumgarner is Kolten Wong, who has been the big hitter in the series with six hits, including a double and a triple, and two RBIs.

He’s 0-for-9 with two strikeouts in his career against Bumgarner.

Miami Dolphins quarterback David Fales has been on the bubble for his entire five-year NFL career, so he almost sounds convincing when he says Thursday's exhibition finale at Atlanta is just another game.

Waived four times and released from a practice squad twice, Fales will likely be awarded the No. 2 job for the first time if he plays well against the Falcons.

If he plays poorly, he might be cut.

In his latest battle to stay in the league, Fales is competing with Brock Osweiler for Miami's backup job.

"You can't put too much weight on one game," Fales said. "I'm going to approach it the same way I have every preseason game and every game. You can't put too much pressure on yourself. Otherwise you're going to be forcing stuff and trying to do crazy stuff, and it's not going to help you."

It's the oddest thing about these preseason finales the week before the season 鈥?they're poorly attended and mostly meaningless, but for players fighting to make the roster, the pressure's perhaps greater than in a playoff game.

So Dolphins coach Adam Gase will see how Fales and Osweiler fare under pressure. Gase seeks a successor to the departed Matt Moore, Miami's backup quarterback since 2011.

Osweiler and Fales haven't looked like keepers much since training camp began, but Gase said he's comfortable with his options at backup quarterback 鈥?an important role given doubts regarding the durability of starter Ryan Tannehill Radek Faksa Jersey , who's coming off knee surgery and missed the entire 2017 season.

Miami might decide to keep both Osweiler and Fales, but the fourth quarterback on the roster, Bryce Petty, is a long shot to make the team. There has also been speculation the unimpressive camps by Fales and Osweiler might prompt the Dolphins to go quarterback shopping before the season.

Gase said he's certain his No. 2 QB will be either Fales or Osweiler. The reason for his comfort level?

"I've called games for both of them," Gase said.

Fales won praise from Gase after his first career start in last year's season finale. He threw for 265 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Buffalo.

Osweiler, a seventh-year veteran, was a backup with the Denver Broncos and played in 13 games when Gase was an assistant coach there.

The two contenders for the No. 2 job did little to help their cause in Saturday's exhibition game against Baltimore. When Miami was outscored 24-0 in the second half, each threw an interception and finished with a passer rating under 36.0.

Gase blamed poor protection by second- and third-team linemen.

"I think Brock's temper is better than it used to be," Gase said with a slight smile. "He took a couple shots there. It's not on him."

For the entire preseason, Osweiler is 25 for 41 for 174 yards with one interception and six sacks. Fales is 14 for 27 for 184 yards with two interceptions and one sack. Neither has thrown a touchdown pass.

Like Fales, Osweiler tries to characterize the exhibition finale not as a winner-take-all battle for No. 2, but just another day in the ongoing competition to stay in the NFL.

"It doesn't really matter what spot you're labeled in," Osweiler said. "You need to come to practice every single day and get better. Otherwise someone will take your job."