Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2016 ) Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 9

The San Francisco Giants have struggled since the All-Star break but have a chance to win the three-game series with the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday when ace Madison Bumgarner takes the mound. The teams split the first two games with San Francisco's 9-7 victory on Tuesday representing only the club's second victory in the past 10 games.

The Giants have seen their National League West lead decrease to 2 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers because of their recent swoon. All-Star first baseman Brandon Belt reached base four times Tuesday and is 4-for-6 with a homer in the series after scuffling through a 3-for-34 stretch. Cincinnati All-Star right fielder Jay Bruce has three homers in the series and five in the last four games, while All-Star left fielder Adam Duvall homered twice Tuesday to halt a 10-game homerless stretch. Despite the defeat, Cincinnati is 7-4 over its last 11 contests and has scored 52 runs in the past eight games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Dan Straily (5-6, 4.01 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 2.14)

Straily halted a six-start winless stretch in his last turn when he allowed two runs and five hits in six innings against Arizona. He struck out eight batters, his second most of the season behind the career-best-tying 11 Los Angeles Dodgers he fanned May 25. Straily is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in two career starts against the Giants.

Bumgarner is winless in his past two starts after concluding play before the All-Star break by matching his career best of 14 strikeouts during a one-hit shutout of the Diamondbacks. He received a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last turn when he gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings. Bumgarner is 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA in seven career starts against Cincinnati and has struggled with Joey Votto (5-for-14, one homer) while shutting down Bruce (2-for-15).

WALK-OFFS

1. Votto went 2-for-3 with a home run Tuesday and is 18-for-36 with four homers and 10 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak.

2. San Francisco C Buster Posey is 5-for-12 over the past three games after enduring a 2-for-17 stretch.

3. Cincinnati RHP Homer Bailey, who underwent Tommy John surgery 14 months ago, is the likely starter Sunday against the San Diego Padres.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Reds 2