Arizona @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 23, 2013 ) Arizona 6, San Francisco 4

Brandon Belt has come off the bench in the last three games, but the first baseman will likely return to the starting lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Belt has made a major impact in the series as a pinch hitter, beginning with his walk-off single in Monday’s 5-4 victory and capped by his tying two-run homer in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 11-inning, 6-4 loss. Belt is 3-for-3 in the series after starting the season with 11 hits in his first 60 at-bats.

Tuesday’s loss snapped San Francisco’s seven-game home winning streak and ended the Giants’ streak of nine consecutive wins over National League West opponents. The Diamondbacks are looking to improve to 7-0 in series finales and finish their nine-game road trip on a high note. Arizona is 3-5 on its trip, but the team has been encouraged by the play of rookie shortstop Didi Gregorius, who was acquired from Cincinnati over the winter. Gregorius is batting .400 with two homers over his first 20 at-bats.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (1-2, 5.47 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-0, 2.05)

Kennedy has lost two straight, including Friday’s outing against the Rockies when he allowed three runs over six innings. He is 6-2 with 2.38 ERA in 13 career starts against San Francisco. Buster Posey is 8-for-23 and Belt has two hits in 13 at-bats with a home run against Kennedy, who is undefeated in his last seven starts against the Giants, going 5-0 with 2.57 ERA during that stretch. He’s 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA in seven career starts at AT&T Park.

Bumgarner gave up two runs while striking out 10 over six innings Friday against San Diego in his ninth career double-digit strikeout game. The 23-year-old left-hander has been the Giants’ most consistent starter over the first few weeks while boasting a 27-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Gerardo Parra is hitless in 10 at-bats with five strikeouts against Bumgarner, who is 3-3 with a 3.78 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against Arizona.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco is 11-5 in games decided by three runs or fewer.

2. The Diamondbacks are 1-7 when trailing after six innings.

3. Bumgarner struggled against the Diamondbacks last season, going 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA in three starts.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Diamondbacks 1