Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2014 ) Milwaukee 2, San Francisco 13

The Milwaukee Brewers' postseason hopes appeared to take a major blow when Matt Garza suffered an oblique injury at the beginning of the month, but Mike Fiers has more than filled the void left by the right-hander. Fiers looks to win his fifth consecutive start as the National League Central-leading Brewers continue their three-game series at the San Francisco Giants. Fiers has been overpowering during his four-start run, compiling a sparking 1.29 ERA and 0.50 WHIP.

Milwaukee needs a solid effort from Fiers after the Giants erupted for 13 runs and 19 hits in Friday's rout to move a half-game ahead of St. Louis for the top wild-card slot. Buster Posey led the offensive assault with a 5-for-5 night in only six innings to extend a white-hot streak that has seen him go 20-for-40 with five homers, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored in his last nine games. The Brewers hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL Central while the Giants are 3 1/2 back in the NL West.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), KNTV (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Mike Fiers (4-1, 1.54 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jake Peavy (3-13, 4.34)

Fiers continued his string of dominating performances by holding Pittsburgh to two runs on only two hits over seven innings last time out. He has not allowed more than three hits during the four-start win streak while registering 32 strikeouts against only four walks in 28 innings. Fiers has been as tough on left-handed batters as right-handed hitters, holding them to batting averages of .127 and .145, respectively.

Peavy continues to pitch well with little to show for it, taking the loss versus Colorado last time out despite yielding three runs (one earned) in seven innings. He had won his previous two starts, going seven innings in each and allowing a combined three runs. Peavy came out on the short end of a 3-1 decision at Milwaukee on Aug. 7, giving up three runs in 5 2/3 innings to drop to 3-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 11 starts against them.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants RF Hunter Pence has hit safely in 11 straight games while 2B Joe Panik has 34 hits in his last 22 games.

2. Brewers C Jonathan Lucroy recorded his major league-best 45th double Friday and is five shy of joining Lyle Overbay and Aramis Ramirez as the only Brewers to reach 50 in a season.

3. Peavy has permitted two homers in six starts with the Giants compared to 20 in 20 starts with Boston this season.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Giants 2