San Francisco @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) San Francisco 8, Pittsburgh 12

The Pittsburgh Pirates hope the return of Charlie Morton helps to bolster what has been one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. Morton makes his season debut Thursday when the Pirates host the San Francisco Giants in the finale of a three-game series, making his first start since May 29, 2012. The Pirates go for the sweep at home, looking to win for the 21st time in their past 31 contests.

Defending World Series champion San Francisco has lost nine of its past 14 games. The road has been anything but kind to the Giants; San Francisco has dropped 12 of its past 16 road games, and the Giants are 2-3 on their current nine-game road trip. Matt Cain starts for the Giants looking for just his second victory in his past five starts.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), Root Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (4-3, 5.09 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (2012: 2-6, 4.65).

Cain is coming off one of his best starts of the season, a one-run, four-hit outing in seven innings Friday at Arizona. He allowed seven earned runs at St. Louis on June 1, striking out nine but surrendering nine hits. Cain is 2-2 with a 3.10 ERA in nine career starts against the Pirates.

Morton makes his return to the big leagues after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last year. He threw 96 pitches in his final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis, allowing two runs on six hits. Morton is 19-37 with a 4.85 ERA in 73 career starts for Pittsburgh.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco 2B Marco Scutaro did not play Wednesday, one night after being hit on the left hand with a pitch.

2. Pittsburgh OF Starling Marte has eight hits in 17 at-bats over the last four games after going 4-for-5 Wednesday.

3. Pittsburgh OF Andrew McCutchen is hitting .349 with 28 runs scored in 33 home games.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Pirates 2