St. Louis @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2015 ) St. Louis 4, San Francisco 5

Kelby Tomlinson wasn’t highly ranked on any prospect lists before the season, but he’s suddenly become a key part of the San Francisco Giants’ playoff push. It always seems to work out that way for the fortuitous Giants, who bring a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s meeting against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

Tomlinson helped the Giants snap the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak with a walk-off single in Friday’s 5-4 series-opening victory as San Francisco remained 2 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers. The 25-year-old rookie is batting .364 in 21 games while providing a surprising boost in place of All-Star Joe Panik, who has been out since Aug. 3 with lower back stiffness but could return in early September. St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal isn’t injured, but he’s unavailable this weekend due to the birth of his second child. The Cardinals, who lead the NL East by 3 1/2 games over Pittsburgh, recalled Sam Tuivailala from Triple-A Memphis to replace Rosenthal for the series.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (10-8, 2.94 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (9-9, 4.05)

Lynn is seeking his first win against San Francisco after going 0-4 with a 6.33 ERA in his previous four starts. The 28-year-old reached double digits in wins for the fourth straight season Monday after limiting Arizona to two runs over six frames. Buster Posey is 4-for-8 with a home run against Lynn, who yielded two runs and five walks over 6 2/3 innings against the Giants on Aug. 18.

Vogelsong looks to bounce back from a dismal outing against Pittsburgh on Sunday, when he allowed three runs and issued four walks over 3 1/3 innings. The 38-year-old has struggled against the Cardinals in the regular season, going 3-6 with a 5.65 ERA in 20 games (10 starts). Yadier Molina is 4-for-21 against Vogelsong, who held St. Louis to two hits over six scoreless innings in the Giants’ 2-0 victory at Busch Stadium on Aug. 18.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Giants placed RHP Matt Cain on the disabled list (elbow) and recalled RHP Chris Heston, who will start Sunday’s series finale.

2. St. Louis OF Jon Jay (wrist) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

3. San Francisco has won 16 of its last 19 home games.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Giants 2