Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2016 ) San Francisco 3, Milwaukee 4

The Milwaukee Brewers begin a nine-game, 10-day road trip Monday in San Francisco on a high note after going 4-2 during their just-completed homestand against Oakland and the New York Mets. The Brewers opened the season by losing two of three against the Giants, who are a major league-best 21-8 since May 11 and lead the NL West by five games.

Both teams’ closers figure to be unavailable Monday as Milwaukee’s Jeremy Jeffress and the Giants’ Santiago Casilla have each pitched in three straight games. San Francisco took two of three against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend and could have left fielder Angel Pagan back in the lineup as soon as Wednesday’s series finale. Rookies Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker have been filling in for Pagan, who reinjured his left hamstring May 23 and is completing a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento. The Brewers have used seven different players in the outfield this season, including 25-year-old Hernan Perez, who made his first-ever start in right field Sunday and went 0-for-4 in the team’s 5-3 win over the Mets.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (4-6, 4.21 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (1-5, 5.20)

Anderson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Oakland on Thursday and has a 2.03 ERA over his last five starts. “When you pitch well and you are successful, obviously it boosts your confidence,” Anderson told reporters. “It’s been good. I’m just trying to, every five days, go out there and do the best I can and keep the team in the game.” Anderson has not allowed a walk over his last three outings but has gone 1-2 with an 8.53 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco.

After a rough first few weeks, Cain was pitching well before missing his last two starts because of a right hamstring strain. The 31-year-old began the month of May by allowing eight runs (six earned) in four innings against Colorado but yielded a total of four runs in his next three starts covering 21 innings. Jonathan Lucroy is 8-for-21 with a home run against Cain, who is 3-8 with a 4.90 ERA in 12 career starts against the Brewers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza, who suffered a shoulder injury in spring training, will make his season debut in a start against the Giants on Tuesday.

2. The Giants are 15-7 in one-run games.

3. The Brewers optioned Opening Day starter Wily Peralta to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

PREDICTION: Brewers 6, Giants 4