Atlanta @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 10, 2013 ) Atlanta 2, San Francisco 8

Brian McCann missed the Atlanta Braves’ first 31 games while recovering from shoulder surgery, but the six-time All-Star is healthy now. McCann heads into Saturday’s matchup against the host San Francisco Giants on a roll after homering in each of the first two games of the series. He is 4-for-8 with five RBIs in the series and is batting .340 with four homers and 12 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak against the Giants. The series is even at one game apiece after the Giants routed Atlanta 8-2 on Friday.

San Francisco is 5-3 on its 10-game homestand and second baseman Marco Scutaro is batting .487 during a 10-game hitting streak. Scutaro got off to a slow start while battling lower-back pain, and is still dealing with some soreness. Right fielder Hunter Pence is also on a tear while batting .350 with three home runs and eight RBIs in his last 10 games. Pence struggled last season after arriving in a trade from Philadelphia, but has started all 36 games this season and leads the Giants with seven home runs.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (4-3, 3.09 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-1, 2.31)

Aside from one awful outing against Detroit, Maholm has been one of the Braves’ top starters. The 30-year-old Maholm has allowed a total of four runs in his last two starts, including two runs over 5 2/3 innings Monday against the Reds. He allowed eight runs against the Tigers on April 26, but he hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his other six starts. Pence is 14-for-47 with two home runs against Maholm, who is 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in nine career starts against the Giants.

Bumgarner has cooled off since opening the season with three straight wins, but has still been the Giants’ most consistent starter. The 23-year-old allowed more than two runs in a start for the first time against Philadelphia on Monday, when he was charged with five runs over six innings. He is winless in four career starts against the Braves, going 0-3 with a 4.30 ERA. Justin Upton is 8-for-14 with a home run and Dan Uggla has one hit in 13 at-bats against Bumgarner, who lost both starts against the Braves last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves are 17-4 when scoring four or more runs.

2. Giants RHP Santiago Casilla could be available Saturday after missing the last two games with a cyst in his right knee.

3. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez will miss his second straight game while attending his daughter’s college graduation.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Braves 2