Toronto @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2013 ) San Francisco 3, Toronto 11

Melky Cabrera figures to receive a decidedly mixed reaction Tuesday when the Toronto Blue Jays begin a two-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Cabrera is returning to AT&T Park for the first time since being suspended last August after testing positive for a banned substance. The left fielder, who is batting .324 with 10 RBIs since May 11, signed with Toronto after the Giants left him off their postseason roster.

The Blue Jays outscored the Giants 21-9 in two wins in Toronto last month, but they’re already 10 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East at 24-33. The Giants have lost six of their last 10 games, and they’re still waiting for their pitching to return to form. San Francisco’s starting pitchers have combined for just four quality starts in their last 19 games - with staff ace Matt Cain owning a puzzling 5.45 ERA.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), Comcast SportsNet-Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Josh Johnson (0-1, 6.86 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (3-5, 5.12)

Johnson is making his first start since landing on the disabled list in late April with right triceps inflammation. He gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, but the Blue Jays are hoping he can provide a boost for their injury-plagued rotation. “We need Josh to be good when he comes back,” Toronto manager John Gibbons told reporters. “He’s got to stabilize things.”

Lincecum has lost five of his last six decisions, including three straight while posting an 8.27 ERA over that stretch. The two-time Cy Young Award winner owns a troubling 68-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. “He is a little bit of an enigma,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. “His stuff is there. He has really good innings. He’s just in a rut where at the critical part of a game, he makes a mistake.”

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants have lost five of Lincecum’s last seven starts.

2. Toronto’s bullpen allowed one run in 22 2/3 innings over three games against San Diego last weekend.

3. Giants CF Angel Pagan, who has missed the last eight games with a right hamstring strain, hopes to return for Tuesday’s series opener.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 6, Giants 5