Cincinnati @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2015 ) San Francisco 9, Cincinnati 8

The San Francisco Giants are 7 1/2 games back of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West with 19 contests left to play, but stranger things have happened. They’ll look to keep their faint playoff hopes alive Monday as they begin a three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, who have given the Giants trouble in recent years.

First baseman Joey Votto is batting .374 over his last 32 games for Cincinnati, which has won 11 of its last 13 meetings at AT&T Park, including the postseason. The Reds took three of four against St. Louis over the weekend but could have a deflated bullpen Monday after six relievers combined to allow seven runs over four innings in Sunday’s 9-2 loss. San Francisco has won six of its last eight and outscored San Diego 27-4 during a three-game sweep of the Padres over the weekend. The injury-plagued Giants have been without Brandon Crawford since last Tuesday due to calf and side soreness, but the shortstop could return to the starting lineup for Monday’s series opener.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Keyvius Sampson (2-4, 6.94 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (7-8, 4.51)

Sampson lost his second straight start last Wednesday as Pittsburgh scored five runs over 5 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old rookie was promoted from Triple-A Louisville on July 30 following Mike Leake’s trade to San Francisco. Sampson, who is making his first career appearance against the Giants, is looking to get untracked after going 0-3 with a 10.24 ERA over his last five starts.

Hudson earned another start following his strong outing last Tuesday, when he held Arizona to one run over six innings and also belted his first home run in two seasons. The 40-year-old, who was making his first start since July 26, plans to retire at the end of the season. Brandon Phillips is 4-for-27 against Hudson, who is 5-2 with a 3.08 ERA in nine career starts against Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants OF Marlon Byrd, who was acquired from the Reds on Aug. 20, has gone 14-for-27 with six RBI over his last seven games.

2. San Francisco is 19-5 at home since July 10.

3. The Reds outscored the Giants 20-6 in a four-game sweep at AT&T Park on June 26-29, 2014.

PREDICTION: Giants 8, Reds 6