Atlanta @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 29, 2015 ) Atlanta 2, San Francisco 4

The San Francisco Giants are in first place in the National League West for the first time since Opening Day and playing like a team that might stay there for awhile. The Giants have won 13 of their last 15 games heading into Saturday’s matchup against the visiting Atlanta Braves, who have dropped four of five on their 10-game road trip.

San Francisco had its streak of 39 consecutive scoreless innings at home come to an end during Friday’s 4-2 victory, but everything else went according to plan as the Giants improved to 21-7 this month. The bullpen has received a boost from recent call-up Hunter Strickland, who has tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and prompted manager Bruce Bochy to use him in high-leverage situations. Strickland ended the eighth inning Friday by retiring Atlanta second baseman Jace Peterson, who is mired in a 3-for-18 slump. The Braves remain high on Peterson as evidenced by the fact that top second base prospect Jose Peraza has been seeing time in center field for Triple-A Gwinnett this week.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Williams Perez (0-0, 4.05 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (5-2, 2.56)

Perez impressed last Monday in his second career start with seven innings of one-run ball against the Dodgers. “He mixes his pitches really well. He’s not afraid to throw his secondary stuff when he’s behind in the count,” manager Fredi Gonzalez told reporters. “So far, I’ve liked the way he’s pitched and progressed.” The 24-year-old earned a promotion from Triple-A Gwinnett after recording a 1.33 ERA in five starts.
Lincecum doesn’t have the fastball that helped him claim two Cy Young awards, but he’s used a variety of pitches to hold opponents to three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. “He’s reinvented himself, really,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell told reporters. “You always appreciate guys who go through some struggles and find another way to have success.” Juan Uribe is 10-for-36 with two home runs against Lincecum, who is 9-6 with a 2.76 ERA in 15 career starts against the Braves.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves have scored two runs or fewer in six of their past 10 games.

2. Giants RHP Jake Peavy’s minor-league rehab assignment is on hold after the veteran experienced back tightness in Wednesday’s start with Triple-A Sacramento.

3. Atlanta is 13-25 against NL West opponents since the start of the 2014 season.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Braves 3