Miami @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2013 ) San Francisco 5, Miami 6

The San Francisco Giants have won 15 of their last 20 games to take control of the National League West race without pitcher Matt Cain collecting a victory. Cain goes to the mound looking to change that when the Giants host the Miami Marlins in the opener of a four-game series Thursday. San Francisco recorded only nine runs in five of Cain’s six starts and faces hard-throwing Nathan Eovaldi as the Marlins try to build on Wednesday’s 13-3 victory at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hunter Pence has gotten eight hits in 18 at-bats in his last four games, including a homer as the Giants rolled over Atlanta 10-4 on Wednesday. San Francisco is fourth in the majors in ERA (3.16) and will take on a vastly-improved Miami offense, which is second in the National League in runs with 187 – 14 better than the Giants. Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton leads the majors in RBIs (42) and boasts a 16-game hitting streak.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET; CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (2-1, 2.86 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (0-3, 4.25)

Eovaldi has notched only one victory in his last six starts, but allowed two or fewer earned runs four times during that span. The 24-year-old Houston native gave up two runs in five innings against San Diego last time out, his shortest outing of the season. Pablo Sandoval is 5-for-5 with six RBIs against Eovaldi, who is 1-2 in three career starts versus San Francisco with a 12.21 ERA.

Cain has yielded two or fewer earned runs in four of his six starts this season, but has lasted past six innings only twice. The 10-year veteran returned after missing two starts with a cut on his index finger when he surrendered two runs in five innings against the Dodgers last Saturday. Cain is 5-4 in 13 career starts with a 3.07 ERA versus Miami, though Stanton has homered three times against him.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco C Buster Posey is 15-for-37 in his last 10 games with six RBIs, raising his batting average to .295.

2. Miami INF-OF Jeff Baker was 3-for-37 to start the season, but has 12 hits in his last 29 at-bats over eight games.

3. Giants OF Angel Pagan, batting .322, could be back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday with a sore right knee.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Marlins 2