San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2014 ) Arizona 2, San Francisco 6

The San Francisco Giants look to maintain their National League West title hopes Monday when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for the start of a three-game series. San Francisco dropped two of three against Los Angeles over the weekend and sits three games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. The Giants, who are beginning a 10-day, nine-game road trip, have a safety net with a 4 1/2-game lead in the NL wild card race and play six of their final 13 games against the Diamondbacks.

San Francisco is hoping to get first baseman Brandon Belt (concussion) and outfielder Michael Morse (oblique) back later this week. Rookie catcher Andrew Susac has provided a spark for the Giants offense in their absence while batting .326 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in his last 11 starts. Arizona outfielder David Peralta (back) could return Monday for the Diamondbacks, who have won two straight following a seven-game losing streak.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (8-10, 3.90 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (7-11, 4.28)

Vogelsong bounced back from a dismal outing at Colorado by holding Arizona to two hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings Wednesday. Control has become an issue for the 37-year-old, who has issued a total of 12 walks over his last four starts. Aaron Hill is 13-for-28 with two homers against Vogelsong, who is 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA in 20 career games (14 starts) against the Diamondbacks, including 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts this season.

Miley is making his 100th career start and hoping to improve on Tuesday's performance against the Giants when he walked four batters and allowed three runs over two innings. The 2012 All-Star is winless in his last seven starts since July 30. Miley is 3-4 with a 3.51 ERA in nine career games (eight starts) against San Francisco while struggling to contain Buster Posey, who has gone 9-for-22 with one home run against the left-hander.

WALK-OFFS

1. Arizona’s starting pitchers have allowed three runs or fewer in 15 of their last 17 starts.

2. The Giants swept a three-game series against the Diamondbacks last week by a combined score of 16-3.

3. The Diamondbacks are 13-2 in their last 15 games when scoring five or more runs.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5