Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2015 ) Cincinnati 3, San Francisco 5

The San Francisco Giants look to extend their winning streak and remain in the hunt for a playoff berth when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. San Francisco defeated Cincinnati 5-3 in the opener to improve to 4-0 on its nine-game homestand after dropping two of three at Arizona.

Matt Duffy and Brandon Belt each registered two hits and two RBIs as the Giants remained 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and climbed within seven of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card. Duffy has been swinging a hot bat, recording two-hit performances in three of his last four contests - collecting five RBIs in the process - while going no more than one game without a hit since July 2 and 3. Cincinnati began its nine-game road trip with its second straight overall loss after winning the first four contests of its five-game series versus St. Louis. Ramon Cabrera went 4-for-4 and Jay Bruce belted a two-run shot for his major league-leading 54th homer off a left-hander since 2010.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH John Lamb (1-3, 5.18 ERA) vs. Giants RH Chris Heston (11-10, 3.55)

Lamb is coming off his first career victory, a five-inning effort against St. Louis on Thursday in which he kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard despite yielding three hits and six walks. It was the sixth major-league start for the 25-year-old Californian, who had issued a total of seven free passes over his first five outings. Lamb, who will be facing San Francisco for the first time, is 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in two road starts.

Heston's winless streak reached seven starts on Wednesday when he suffered his fifth loss in that span after yielding two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings at Arizona. The 27-year-old Floridian, who has not worked more than 6 1/3 frames during his drought, hasn't won since defeating Milwaukee on July 27. Heston made his only career start against the Reds on May 17, surrendering five runs and seven hits over two innings in a no-decision at Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto enters Tuesday with a 33-game on-base streak.

2. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik (back) and RF Hunter Pence (oblique) both are unlikely to play again this season.

3. Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton left Monday's contest in the fifth inning to rest his sore right shoulder.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Reds 3