San Francisco @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) San Francisco 1, Cincinnati 2

Madison Bumgarner has produced a pair of 18-win seasons and was named World Series MVP in 2014, but the San Francisco Giants are having trouble picking up victories with the ace left-hander on the mound since the start of 2017. The Giants are 10-20 in Bumgarner's last 30 starts entering Saturday's matchup against the host Cincinnati Reds.

San Francisco lost its second straight one-run decision in extra innings Friday, falling 2-1 in the series opener to drop back below .500. Andrew McCutchen collected three hits and drove in the lone run with an RBI single for the Giants, who are 2-2 on their 10-game road trip. The Reds had allowed 31 runs during a four-game slide but finally received a well-pitched game that was rewarded when rookie Phillip Ervin belted a walk-off home run in the 11th inning. Right-hander Matt Harvey, who is winless in four starts since the All-Star break, will oppose Bumgarner in the middle contest of the three-game set.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (4-4, 2.71 ERA) vs. Reds RH Matt Harvey (5-7, 5.19)

Bumgarner settled for a second straight no-decision despite another solid performance at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, giving up two runs over six innings. The 29-year-old is 1-1 over his last four starts despite permitting just five earned runs over 26 innings. Bumgarner is 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA in eight career starts against the Reds and 2-1 with a 3.79 ERA at Great American Ball Park.

Harvey is coming off his longest outing of the season in a no-decision against Arizona, striking out seven and allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. He continues to have issues with the long ball, surrendering at least one home run in four consecutive starts and seven total in that span. Buster Posey is 5-for-8 with a homer and McCutchen 5-for-11 with a homer against Harvey.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ervin is the fifth Reds rookie to ever hit a walk-off home run in extra innings.

2. The Giants will activate RHP Hunter Strickland, who has been on the 60-day disabled list with a fractured right pinkie finger.

3. Reds 1B Joey Votto (leg) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Reds 1