St. Louis @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2017 ) St. Louis 7, San Francisco 3

The San Francisco Giants hope to duplicate the success they enjoyed during their last homestand when they begin another 10-game stretch at AT&T Park with the opener of a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. The Giants went 7-3 on their last string of home contests but followed with a 3-3 road trip that concluded with three straight losses in Colorado, including a 1-0 setback on Wednesday.

San Francisco registered three runs and 14 hits during the series at Coors Field, managing only three singles in Wednesday's setback. Brandon Belt recorded one of the base hits and enters Thursday with a five-game streak during which he has gone 7-for-19. The Cardinals continue a nine-game road trip they began by winning two of three in Arizona, including an 8-4 triumph in Wednesday's rubber match. Yadier Molina belted a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning and Tommy Pham also drove in three runs while joining Matt Carpenter with three hits, making him 9-for-16 with six RBIs over his last four games.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Luke Weaver (4-7, 5.16 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (3-0, 0.84)

Weaver is coming off a rough showing against Atlanta on Saturday in which he was battered for eight runs and 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings en route to his fifth loss in six decisions. The 24-year-old Floridian has failed to last six frames in each of his last seven turns, yielding at least four runs in five of those outings. Weaver, who has recorded all four of his victories this season on the road, has allowed eight runs - two earned - over 9 2/3 innings while going 1-1 in two career starts versus San Francisco.

Cueto will return from an elbow injury to make his first start since April 28, when he allowed two runs and three hits over six innings in a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 32-year-old Dominican has worked at least six frames in each of his five turns this season and gave up a total of one run over 26 innings in his first four outings. Cueto owns a 7-8 record with two complete games and a 3.74 ERA in 23 career starts against St. Louis.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants C Buster Posey has gone 0-for-5 in his last two contests following a four-game hitting streak during which he went 7-for-13.

2. Molina, who went 5-for-12 with two blasts and six RBIs in the series against Arizona, has hit 12 of his 13 home runs this season on the road.

3. San Francisco recalled 2B Kelby Tomlinson from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned RHP Pierce Johnson to the River Cats.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Cardinals 3