St. Louis @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2013 ) St. Louis 0, San Francisco 1

The San Francisco Giants have relied on starting pitching to win two out of the last three World Series, and nothing has changed this season. The Giants are 3-1 heading into Saturday's home game against the St. Louis Cardinals despite averaging 2.25 runs per game. The Giants’ first four starting pitchers have been outstanding while allowing zero earned runs over their first 26 innings, including Friday’s 1-0 win over the Cardinals. The three-game series continues with Ryan Vogelsong facing rookie Shelby Miller.

The Cardinals have scored one run on seven hits in their last 18 innings, and right fielder Carlos Beltran has one hit in his first 10 at-bats while playing through a toe injury. The St. Louis lineup should get a boost in the next few days from third baseman David Freese, who went 1-for-4 with a double for Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Freese, who is recovering from a lower back strain, could return as soon as Monday’s home opener against Cincinnati.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Shelby Miller (2012: 1-0, 1.32 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (14-9, 3.37)

The Giants had their first look at Miller in last year’s National League Championship Series, when he allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings over two relief outings. The 22-year-old Miller was impressive in six appearances late last season, and he earned the fifth spot in the Cardinals’ rotation after going 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA in five spring training appearances (three starts). Miller had a career 11.1 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio in the minors, and he set the Triple-A Memphis franchise record last season with 160 strikeouts.

Most teams would be thrilled to have a fifth starter such as Vogelsong, who set career highs last season with 14 victories, 31 starts and 158 strikeouts. The 35-year-old Vogelsong was sharp during spring training, including two starts for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Beltran is 4-for-11 with a home run against Vogelsong, who is 2-4 with a 6.51 ERA in 16 career appearances games (six starts) against the Cardinals. He was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA against St. Louis in last year’s NLCS.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco C Buster Posey will receive the 2012 National League MVP trophy in a pregame ceremony.

2. RHP Trevor Rosenthal has appeared in three of the Cardinals’ first four games, allowing one run in four innings.

3. The Giants are 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position through their first four games.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Cardinals 2