San Francisco @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2010 ) San Francisco 9, Toronto 6

The Toronto Blue Jays' offseason makeover had many analysts ready to crown them as World Series contenders. Nearly a quarter of the way through the season, the Blue Jays have yet to resemble anything close to a championship team. They'll get a close look at one Tuesday as they welcome the San Francisco Giants to the Rogers Centre for a two-game interleague series. The defending-champion Giants are off to a strong start, two games up in the National League West.

Toronto has dealt with a litany of injuries and subpar performances, and finds itself buried in the AL East basement with one of the worst run differentials in the league. The Blue Jays won just their second series of 2013 over the weekend, taking two of three from the slipping Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Giants, who have won two of the last three World Series titles, are coming off their own series victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves and have won three straight overall.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (3-1, 2.75 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH R.A. Dickey (2-5, 5.06)

Eliminate two rough outings from Zito's 2013 resume and the veteran left-hander has been nearly unhittable. Zito is coming off back-to-back one-run outings, including a sensational seven-inning stint in a win over the Philadelphia Phillies six days ago. The 35-year-old has surrendered more than one earned run just once in seven starts, and has limited opposing hitters to three home runs over 39 1/3 innings.

Dickey's knuckleball isn't fooling hitters the way it did a season ago, when he rolled to the National League Cy Young Award. The 38-year-old has already issued 22 free passes over 48 innings, including a pair of five-walk outings. Dickey never walked more than four batters in any game last year. He's winless in his last four outings, and settled for a no-decision last time out after surrendering three runs on five hits with five walks over six innings against Tampa Bay.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants have an 8-4 edge in the all-time head-to-head series. The teams last met in 2010, when host Toronto claimed two of three.

2. Zito last faced Toronto on June 18, 2010, when he was the losing pitcher in a 3-2 Blue Jays triumph.

3. Dickey is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA in 20 career innings against the Giants.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 4, Giants 3