Chicago @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 3, San Francisco 2

Following a disastrous loss in the opener of a three-game series, the San Francisco Giants look to get back on track with their best pitcher on the mound when they host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Madison Bumgarner will try to take the sting away from a damaging 3-2 setback that saw San Francisco blow a ninth-inning lead on a two-run error by first baseman Brandon Belt. It was the Giants' 20th loss in 28 games.

Bumgarner will carry a 2.55 home ERA to the mound against a Cubs team that had lost five straight in San Francisco prior to Friday. Chicago is 4-4 on a 10-game road trip. The Cubs, who lost 101 games last year while the Giants won the World Series, have a better record than San Francisco in 2013.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago (Chicago), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Chris Rusin (1-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (10-6, 2.93)

Rusin will be making his third start of the year - all on the road. He picked up his first victory of 2013 by allowing two runs on two hits in five innings at Arizona on Monday. The 26-year-old, who has never faced San Francisco, has yet to go beyond five frames in nine career starts.

Bumgarner has lasted seven innings in seven straight starts, limiting opponents to two earned runs or less in each outing. He has 49 strikeouts while yielding 26 hits in 49 innings during that span. Bumgarner, who turns 24 on Thursday, is 4-2 with a 2.78 ERA in his career against the Cubs.

WALK-OFFS

1. Bumgarner held the Cubs to two runs in 6 2/3 innings to get the win April 13 in Chicago.

2. The Giants were 37-1 when leading after eight innings prior to Friday.

3. Chicago SS Starlin Castro is hitting .313 and has committed only one error over his last 26 games

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Cubs 2