San Francisco Giants’ pitcher Ty Blach who will start on Friday night in Arizona bunts for a single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Mathew Sumner)

By Jeremy Harness

 Well, the Giants’ fate has long been sealed, the season heading absolutely nowhere, and that the only redeeming quality left is seeing how the young guys play from now until the end of the season, as part of a year-end evaluation.

 They will get their next test starting Friday night as they head to Arizona to face the second-place Diamondbacks for a three-game series.

 Ty Blach (8-9, 4.59 ERA) will take the hill Friday night opposite Arizona righty Zack Greinke (14-6, 3.16 ERA).

 Blach has lost his previous two outings, including a defeat at the hands of the hapless Philadelphia Phillies during which he surrendered six runs on eight hits over only 5 1/3 innings. Overall, the lefty has lost four of his last six decisions.

 Greinke has dropped two of his past three decisions, the most recent coming in a 5-0 loss to Minnesota that saw him give up four earned runs (five total) on seven hits and lasted only four innings while doing so.

 If they were in any other division in the majors, the Diamondbacks would be at or near the top spot. However, the 90-win Dodgers happen to play in the National League West, and Arizona, which sports a 70-58 record, is 21 games out of first place.

 The Diamondbacks, however, currently own a playoff spot. Arizona has the inside track on the first of two wild-card positions in the National League. They have a half-game advantage over the Rockies, who have the second wild-card spot.