San Francisco @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2013 ) Milwaukee 0, San Francisco 0

Barry Zito gets the nod for the visiting San Francisco Giants in Tuesday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, who are off to a disappointing 3-8 start. The Giants have won 16 consecutive Zito starts dating to last season, but the veteran lefty has never won at Miller Park, going 0-4 with a 7.67 ERA in seven career outings. He’s facing a Brewers team that has struggled to score runs since third baseman Aramis Ramirez (knee) landed on the disabled list on April 6.

Milwaukee set a team record with 32 consecutive scoreless innings before knocking off St. Louis 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday. San Francisco begins the series with six wins in its last seven games, but reigning NL MVP Buster Posey is off to a slow start, batting .231 without a home run. The All-Star catcher is probably eager to arrive in Milwaukee, where he’s 12-for-24 with six homers and 15 RBIs in seven career games at Miller Park.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (2-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Wily Peralta (0-1, 4.50)

Zito has been outstanding so far, becoming the first Giants pitcher to throw seven shutout innings in each of his first two starts to a season since Al Worthington in July 1953. “You can't have more confidence than what Barry has right now,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters after Zito’s win over Colorado last Wednesday. Ryan Braun is 5-for-14 with three homers against Zito, who is 2-4 with a 5.91 ERA in nine career starts against Milwaukee.

Peralta is set to make his first career start against the Giants after giving up three runs (two earned) in 6 2/3 innings against the Cubs last Tuesday. The 23-year-old Peralta is 2-2 with a 3.07 ERA in eight career games (seven starts). Peralta, who is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in four games (three starts) at Miller Park, earned a spot in the rotation after finishing last season with a 3.32 ERA over his last 15 starts for Triple-A Nashville.

WALK-OFFS

1. Since the All-Star break last year, the Giants have gone 12-1-1 in their last 14 road series.

2. Milwaukee cleanup hitters are 2-for-30 since Ramirez went on the disabled list.

3. The Giants activated 1B Brett Pill from the disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Fresno.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Brewers 3