Atlanta @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 9, 2013 ) Atlanta 6, San Francisco 3

The San Francisco Giants are 15-6 within the National League West, but they haven’t enjoyed the same success outside their division. When the Giants face the visiting Atlanta Braves on Friday, they’ll look to improve on their 5-9 mark against teams outside the West. The Braves won the opener of the four-game series 6-3 when Brian McCann homered in his third contest since coming off the disabled list, giving them four wins in their last five games.

The Giants have lost three of their last four, but Buster Posey is doing his part. The reigning NL MVP homered and drove in three runs on Thursday, and he’s batting .373 this season at AT&T Park. The Giants’ bullpen could be shorthanded this weekend with right-hander Santiago Casilla expected to miss several games with a cyst in his right knee. Relievers George Kontos and Chad Gaudin could also be unavailable Friday after pitching two innings each on Thursday.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Tim Hudson (4-1, 3.83 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (1-2, 5.57)

In his first outing since recording his 200th career win, Hudson allowed three runs over 7 1/3 innings against the Mets last Sunday. Hudson owns an impressive 31-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he’s completed seven innings in his last two starts. The 37-year-old veteran is 8-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 17 career starts against San Francisco, including 2-0 with a 1.88 ERA in two starts last season. Hunter Pence is 7-for-18 against Hudson, while Pablo Sandoval is 2-for-17.

After posting a 7.85 ERA in his five previous starts, Cain picked up his first win last Sunday with a dominant effort against the Dodgers. The three-time All-Star gave up an earned run over 7 1/3 innings and threw 109 pitches. The 28-year-old Cain is 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA in six career games against the Braves, including 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last two starts. Dan Uggla is 4-for-19 with a home run against Cain, who has allowed a surprisingly high nine homers this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez will miss Friday and Saturday’s games while attending his daughter’s college graduation.

2. Giants 2B Marco Scutaro is 17-for-35 during a nine-game hitting streak.

3. Atlanta OF Jason Heyward (appendectomy) began his minor-league rehab assignment by going hitless in five at-bats with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Braves 2