Atlanta @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2012 ) Atlanta 3, San Francisco 5

The San Francisco Giants have been all about pitching for the last few years, but they will need all the offense they can muster to fend off the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Angel Pagan has stepped up since Melky Cabrera was suspended for a positive testosterone test and he'll try to lead the Giants to a season-high sixth straight victory when they host the reeling Atlanta Braves on Saturday. Pagan registered his second four-hit contest of the season in San Francisco's 5-3 victory Friday and is 18-for-35 during an eight-game hitting streak. The Giants, who have won 10 of their last 13 games, are three games ahead of the Dodgers in the West.

The Giants' Madison Bumgarner has reeled off eight straight quality starts since the All-Star break and leads the National League with 61 strikeouts during that span. He will oppose Atlanta's Mike Minor, who has received little support in losing his last three starts and has won only once in his seven outings since the All-Star break. All but one have been quality starts. The Braves have lost six of their last seven games, but are three games clear in the NL wild card race.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (6-10, 4.74 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (14-7, 2.83)

Minor's ERA has dropped .26 during his losing streak as the Braves have scored one run during a span in which he has allowed seven runs in 20 innings. In his first start following the break, Minor allowed one run and struck out seven in six innings in Atlanta's 9-4 loss to San Francisco on July 18. He pitched six shutout innings in 2011 in his other start against the Giants. San Francisco's roster is hitting .179 against Minor, with Buster Posey going 2-for-3 (double, RBI).

Bumgarner has won two straight starts and three of his last four. He allowed four hits and struck out 10 in eight shutout innings in San Francisco's key 2-1 victory at Los Angeles on Monday. He pitched a five-hitter against Washington in a 5-1 victory Aug. 14 in his previous start. Bumgarner is 0-2 with a 3.78 ERA in three starts against the Braves, including a 3-2 loss at Atlanta on July 18. The Braves' roster is hitting .178 against him, though, but Freddie Freeman is 3-for-8 (homer, two RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Francisco Peguero is expected to make his major league debut Saturday when he starts in left field for the Giants. Peguero, who was hitting .282 with five homers and 68 RBIs in 102 games at Triple-A Fresno, was called up Thursday.

2. Freeman homered twice Friday. The second bounced off the top of the right field wall and into McCovey Cove.

3. San Francisco RF Hunter Pence went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday and has fanned 28 times in 91 at-bats over 23 games since being acquired from Philadelphia.