San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2014 ) San Francisco 2, Arizona 6

San Francisco Giants center fielder Angel Pagan is hitting .488 in 10 games against Arizona this season, but a sore back could force him to miss his second straight game on Tuesday. Pagan was clearly missed on Monday, when the Giants opened a nine-game road trip with a 6-2 loss to the Diamondbacks and fell four games behind Los Angeles in the National League West with 12 remaining. San Francisco leads Pittsburgh by 2 1/2 games in the race for the top NL wild card spot, with Milwaukee sitting 1 1/2 games behind the Pirates.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt was activated from the disabled list on Monday, but he'll likely be eased back into the lineup after missing five weeks due to concussion symptoms. “I’m completely normal,” Belt told reporters. “I’m ready to get going. I want to get out there playing again.” Arizona first baseman Mark Trumbo is winding down a season marred by a foot injury, but he has six hits and nine RBIs over the last three games for the Diamondbacks, who have scored a total of 24 runs during their three-game winning streak.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jake Peavy (6-13, 3.93 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Josh Collmenter (10-7, 3.67)

Peavy was 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA when Boston traded him to the Giants on July 26, but he’s exceeded expectations by going 5-1 with 1.12 ERA over his last six outings. "He’s been a godsend to us,” general manager Brain Sabean told the Boston Globe. “Very timely.” The 33-year-old held Arizona to one run while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings last Thursday, and he’s 15-12 with a 4.48 ERA in 31 career starts against the Diamondbacks.

Collmenter received a no-decision last Wednesday when he tossed six shutout innings against the Giants. The 28-year-old has made a strong case to remain in Arizona’s rotation next season while going 2-0 with a 0.65 ERA over his last four starts. Collmenter, whose next victory will set a career high, owns a 5-1 record and 3.31 ERA in 17 career games (six starts) against San Francisco, including 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in five games (two starts) this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants have been outscored 27-4 during their three-game losing streak.

2. Diamondbacks 3B Jake Lamb has missed the last four games due to a quadriceps injury and is listed as day-to-day.

3. San Francisco is 13-55 when scoring three or fewer runs.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Diamondbacks 3