Arizona @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 3, 2014 ) San Francisco 8, Arizona 5

The San Francisco Giants’ recent system of winning the World Series one season and missing the playoffs the next is due for another championship in 2014, and so far things are looking good. The Giants will try to take control of another National League West opponent when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the home opener Tuesday. The Diamondbacks are off to a slow start but snapped a four-game slide with a win Sunday.

The Giants took three of four from Arizona to open their 2014 season, though it was the second series of the year for the Diamondbacks after their trip to Australia. The best pitching performance for both teams in the first meeting came from Tim Hudson and Trevor Cahill, who will get another chance against each other Tuesday. San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt homered in three of the four games against the Diamondbacks and added his fourth blast of the season in Sunday’s 6-2 loss to the Dodgers.

TV: 4:35 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (0-2, 6.30 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (1-0, 0.00)

Cahill was knocked around in Australia against the Dodgers in his first start but turned in a better effort on American soil against the Giants last week. The 26-year-old surrendered two runs and four hits over six innings in that turn and is 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 12 career starts against San Francisco. Cahill has held Belt to 5-for-22 with five strikeouts and no home runs in his career.

Hudson was signed in the offseason to provide bulk innings in the middle of the rotation and fit that description by scattering three hits without walking a batter in 7 2/3 innings opposite Cahill last week. The 38-year-old is back in the Bay Area after beginning his career with the Oakland Athletics and is 3-3 with a 3.81 ERA in eight career starts at AT&T Park. Hudson has always been at his best against the Diamondbacks with an 8-1 record and a 1.99 ERA in 12 career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco CF Angel Pagan has recorded multiple hits in five of the first seven games.

2. Diamondbacks LF Mark Trumbo has homered in four straight games and is one better than Belt with five on the season.

3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt had his 26-game hitting streak end on Saturday but bounced back with two hits Sunday.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5