San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 24, 2013 ) Arizona 3, San Francisco 2

The San Francisco Giants look to snap a five-game losing streak Monday when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series. The Giants’ starting pitching has been surprisingly inconsistent, but reigning National League MVP Buster Posey is doing his best to keep the Giants near the top of the division. Posey has a nine-game hitting streak with 12 hits in his last 30 at-bats while third baseman Pablo Sandoval is 7-for-11 in his last two games.

Arizona has won five of its last six games and is off to its second-best start since 2006 at 15-10. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, batting .305 with five homers, is 20-for-54 (.370) with three home runs and 14 RBIs in his last 15 games against San Francisco. Outfielder Gerardo Parra enters the series on a tear after extending his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games in Sunday’s 4-2 win over Colorado. Parra has reached base safely in 24 of the team’s first 25 games.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet-Bay Area, Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (0-2, 6.59 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Ian Kennedy (1-2, 4.70)

Cain has struggled since tossing six scoreless innings in his first start of the season, going 0-2 with an 8.34 ERA in his last four outings. The Giants have gone winless in Cain’s last six starts dating to last season. Miguel Montero is 10-for-46 (.217) with two homers and 13 strikeouts against Cain, who is 13-6 with a 3.38 ERA in 28 career starts against Arizona. The 28-year-old right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in his last four starts against the Diamondbacks.

Kennedy has worked exactly six innings in three of his first five starts, including last Wednesday against the Giants when he allowed one run on four hits. He’s 0-2 with a 5.32 ERA in his last four starts. Brandon Belt is 2-for-15 with nine strikeouts and Sandoval is 7-for-33 (.212) with five RBIs against Kennedy, who is 6-2 with a 2.33 ERA in 14 career starts against San Francisco. His 2.33 ERA is third-best among all active pitchers against the Giants.

WALK-OFFS

1. Diamondbacks SS Didi Gregorius was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list on Sunday.

2. San Francisco has lost eight of its last 12 games since beginning the season 9-4.

3. Arizona is 9-4 in the last 13 games against the Giants at Chase Field.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Giants 2