Arizona @ San Francisco Preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2016 ) Arizona 0, San Francisco 4

The San Francisco Giants host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the opener of a two-game series and hope Sunday's offensive explosion snaps them out of a slump which has persisted since the All-Star break. San Francisco (71-59) is 14-26 since the Midsummer Classic after its 13-4 victory over Atlanta on Sunday, and is 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West but 3 1/2 clear in the wild card race.

"Our luck is changing a little bit," Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner told reporters after watching his team belt four home runs, four triples and pile up an AT&T Park record 41 total bases Sunday. "The offense really came to life, That's fun to watch." The offense isn't completely to blame despite averaging 4.7 runs prior the break but 4.1 since because the pitching staff's before and after ERAs are 3.62 and 4.13. Arizona (55-76) alternated losses and wins in its last 10 games, and sits last in the NL West, one-half game behind San Diego as it embarks on an eight-game road trip against NL West clubs. The Diamondbacks' Zack Greinke suffered his only career loss versus San Francisco earlier this season and opposes Johnny Cueto, who is 8-2 with a 2.93 ERA in 11 starts against Arizona - 2-1, 3.86 in three turns this year.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (11-4, 4.29 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (14-4, 2.86)

Greinke earned no-decisions in his last two starts, allowing four runs, six hits and three walks in six innings of Arizona's 10-9 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday, and two runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts in seven frames of the Diamondbacks' 7-4 loss at San Diego on Aug. 19. The 32-year-old Floridian is 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in four starts since returning from the disabled list Aug. 9, including an 16-2 setback in Boston on Aug. 14 when he yielded nine runs in 1 2/3 innings. Buster Posey is 10-for-32 with two RBIs and seven strikeouts against Greinke, who is 8-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 12 starts versus San Francisco - 1-1, 3.55 in two outings this season.

Cueto was a hard-luck loser, permitting one run and four hits with six strikeouts in six innings of the Giants' 1-0 loss at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Dominican is 1-3 with a 3.91 ERA in eight starts since the All-Star break with San Francisco going 3-5 in those games after recording a 16-2 mark in Cueto's first 18 turns. Paul Goldschmidt is 6-for-19 with a home run, five RBIs and six strikeouts against Cueto, who is 6-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 12 home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants RF Hunter Pence will likely return to the lineup Tuesday after missing the last three games because of tightness in his right hamstring.

2. Arizona 2B Jean Segura, who left Saturday's game because of illness and did not play Sunday, was tied with Los Angeles rookie Corey Seager for the NL lead in hits with 162 entering Monday.

3. San Francisco is 9-5 versus the Diamondbacks this season, including a three-game sweep at AT&T Park heading into the All-Star break.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2