Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2016 ) Milwaukee 5, San Francisco 11

Milwaukee pitcher Matt Garza may have preferred an easier matchup for his season debut, but the veteran right-hander appears set for his matchup Tuesday against the host San Francisco Giants and ace Madison Bumgarner. Garza, who has been sidelined all season due to a right lat strain, joins a Milwaukee team that opened a nine-game, 10-day road trip with Monday’s 11-5 loss to the Giants.

Bumgarner takes the mound riding a six-game winning streak for San Francisco, which is 22-8 since May 11 and leads the National League West by a season-high six games. Left fielder Angel Pagan (hamstring) is expected to be activated from the disabled list in time for Wednesday’s series finale, and the Giants have also reportedly explored the possibility of trading for Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun, who is batting .313 with 11 home runs and 36 RBI. Braun would be an immediate upgrade for a Giants lineup that will be without right fielder Hunter Pence (hamstring) until early August, but he figures to have multiple suitors. “It's impossible to completely avoid it, but I just don't waste much energy thinking about it because obviously most of it’s out of my control,” Braun told reporters. “I focus on the things I can control like trying to stay healthy, trying to stay on the field and continue to be productive.”

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Matt Garza (2015: 6-14, 5.63 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (7-2, 1.88)

Garza is filling a spot in the rotation previously held by Wily Peralta, who was sent to Triple-A Colorado Springs after going 4-7 with a 6.08 ERA in 13 starts. The 32-year-old Garza, a native of California’s Central Valley, went 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA in three minor-league rehab starts for Class-A Wisconsin. Garza allowed five runs over five innings in a loss to San Francisco on May 26, 2015 and owns a 1-2 mark and 4.58 ERA in three career starts against the Giants.

Bumgarner is 6-0 with a 1.14 ERA, one complete game, 70 strikeouts and 17 walks over his last nine starts, and San Francisco is 10-3 when the 2014 World Series MVP takes the mound. The 26-year-old allowed one run on four hits while walking one and striking out five last Wednesday against Boston. Braun is 8-for-26 with two home runs against Bumgarner, who is 6-2 with a 2.25 ERA in nine career starts against Milwaukee, including three straight victories.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants have won seven of their last eight games against the Brewers at AT&T Park.

2. Milwaukee closer Jeremy Jeffress has not allowed a run or a walk in the 10 games he’s pitched on the road this season.

3. San Francisco OF Gregor Blanco singled in the seventh inning Monday to end an 0-for-27 skid.

PREDICTION: Giants 8, Brewers 2