Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2016 ) Milwaukee 2, San Francisco 3

If the San Francisco Giants keep playing so well, there might not be any need for them to seek reinforcements at next month’s trade deadline. The Giants have built a six-game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and stand a season-high 14 games above .500 heading into Wednesday’s series finale against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Many experts thought San Francisco would falter without star right fielder Hunter Pence, who is out until early August with a right hamstring strain, but the Giants improved to a major league-best 23-8 since May 11 with Tuesday’s 3-2 victory. Left fielder Angel Pagan returned from the disabled list and batted seventh, but first baseman Brandon Belt left the game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on his right ankle and is listed as day-to-day. The Giants have won eight of their last nine games at AT&T Park against Milwaukee, which has opened its nine-game road trip with back-to-back losses. The Brewers have a burgeoning star in shortstop Jonathan Villar, who leads the majors with 23 stolen bases and continues to produce from the leadoff spot with a .299 average, five homers and 26 RBI.

TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jimmy Nelson (5-5, 3.43 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (9-1, 2.16)

Nelson lost his second straight start last Thursday despite holding the Mets to two runs over 5 1/3 innings. The former University of Alabama star turned 27 earlier this month and has recorded a team-leading eight quality starts this season. Joe Panik has four hits in seven at-bats against Nelson, who made his first start of the season against the Giants on April 5 and allowed two runs on five hits over 7 1/3 innings in a 2-1 loss.

Cueto yielded two runs and struck out eight over eight innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers last Friday. The 30-year-old has been as good as advertised since joining the Giants as a free agent during the offseason with three complete games among his 13 starts. Ryan Braun is 10-for-47 with a home run against Cueto, who is 10-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 19 career starts against the Brewers, including 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA in his last seven outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants placed RHP Matt Cain (hamstring) on the disabled list and recalled RHP Chris Stratton from Triple-A Sacramento.

2. Milwaukee RHP Michael Blazek (elbow) began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Colorado Springs on Tuesday.

3. The Giants are 16-7 in one-run games compared to the Brewers' 11-10 mark.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Brewers 1