San Francisco @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 13, 2013 ) San Francisco 3, Chi. Cubs 2

The late innings are still a problem for the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff, and the early innings are a bit of a mystery for the offense. The Cubs will try to earn a split of the four-game series when they host the San Francisco Giants in Sunday's finale. Chicago placed closer Kyuji Fujikawa - its second closer already this season - on the disabled list Saturday and will go with a closer by committee for now.

The Giants sat their own closer after a blown save Friday but got a six-out save from Santiago Casilla on Saturday to go up 2-1 in the series. Sergio Romo had been worked hard through the first 11 games and should be ready again Sunday if San Francisco is leading in the ninth. Romo’s slip Friday and a two-run homer from Dioner Navarro in the seventh inning Saturday counted as breakouts for the Chicago offense, which had totaled two runs through the first six innings in those two contests. Since breaking out in a 7-6 victory during Thursday’s opener, the Giants have totaled six runs in the last two.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (1-0, 4.91 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (0-2, 5.73)

Lincecum struggled mightily in 2012 before emerging as a force out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Back in the rotation for 2013, the former two-time Cy Young Award winner has issued 11 walks in as many innings with 11 strikeouts through his first two starts. He managed to escape any damage despite seven free passes in his first turn but was lit up for six runs on four hits and four walks in six innings against Colorado on Tuesday. Lincecum has gone 4-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 10 career starts against Chicago.

Jackson has had his own problems with command early in the season. The veteran right-hander was a tough-luck loser at Pittsburgh in his first turn but issued five walks while allowing five runs and eight hits in a loss to Milwaukee on Monday. Jackson, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent over the winter, has walked 17 in 26 2/3 career innings against the Giants. He has gone 2-2 with a 4.73 ERA in that span and has had trouble with Pablo Sandoval (5-for-8, home run) and Marco Scutaro (8-for-23, two homers).

WALK-OFFS

1. Navarro has hit a pinch-hit home run in each of the last two games.

2. Cubs C Steve Clevenger will have an MRI after falling to the ground in pain while swinging through a third strike to end the game Saturday.

3. Scutaro is 9-for-15 with three RBIs in the last four games.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Cubs 5