Pittsburgh @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2013 ) San Francisco 10, Pittsburgh 0

Denied their first series sweep in San Diego in 10 years and clinging to a one-game lead atop the National League Central Division, the Pittsburgh Pirates head to San Francisco to open a four-game set against the reigning World Series champion Giants on Thursday. The Pirates are 4-8 over their last 12 games, with six of the defeats coming against NL West opponents Colorado and Arizona. Pittsburgh received superb pitching in San Diego, permitting only four runs in the three games.

The Pirates are catching San Francisco at the right time. The Giants have lost three of four and absorbed a pair of beatings at the hands of Boston, including a 12-1 rout Wednesday that dropped them into the division cellar. Despite their struggles, San Francisco has to like its chances in the series opener with Matt Cain on the mound - he has dominated the Pirates in his last two starts, permitting three hits and striking out 14 in 15 2/3 scoreless innings.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (9-4, 2.90 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (8-8, 4.35)

Locke appears to have hit a wall in his first full season, going winless over his last five starts and getting bludgeoned for a season-high eight runs in 2 2/3 innings by Arizona on Saturday. Locke had allowed three earned runs or fewer in 17 straight starts before his current drought. He has given up at least eight hits in four of his last five outings after not yielding more than seven hits in 18 straight turns.

Cain has turned his season around since the All-Star break, going 3-2 with a 2.41 ERA in his last six starts. He has pitched at least seven innings in his last five outings. Cain won at Pittsburgh on June 13, giving up two hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings to improve to 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 10 career starts versus the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. Locke has pitched exceptionally well on the road, posting a 5-2 mark and 1.81 ERA in 12 starts.

2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has multiple hits in 12 of his last 18 games but is 2-for-16 against Cain.

3. Pittsburgh needs one win to become the sixth major-league team to register 9,800 victories.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Pirates 2