Colorado @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2012 ) Colorado 1, San Francisco 2

As the San Francisco Giants get closer to their second National League West title in three years, it is becoming clear that they very well could have the NL MVP on their team. The Giants, behind Buster Posey, will try to lower their magic number of eight to win the West when they host the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in the second of a four-game series. Posey is hitting .472 (17-for-36) in his last nine games and .389 with 12 homers and 50 RBIs in 56 games since the All-Star break as the Giants have opened an eight-game lead on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Posey is third in the NL in hitting at .334, 12 points behind suspended teammate Melky Cabrera and eight back of fellow MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen of Pittsburgh.

The loss of Cabrera, who was suspended for 50 games in mid-August after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, left a huge void in the Giants lineup. Posey, though, stepped up and is hitting .345 since Cabrera played his last game Aug. 14. San Francisco's Tim Lincecum is 2-0 over his last three starts. He has won five of his last eight decisions, including an 8-3 victory at Colorado on Wednesday. Lincecum will oppose Jeff Francis, who has an 11.70 ERA in the first inning and allowed five runs in the opening frame against Lincecum and the Giants last week.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Root Sports (Colorado), CS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Jeff Francis (5-5, 5.68 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (9-14, 5.09)

Francis didn't allow any more runs and left after three innings and 78 pitches Wednesday as the Rockies were still in their four-man rotation with an about 75-pitch limit. Colorado, though, has since switched back to the traditional five-man starting staff. Francis pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings and didn't receive a decision in the Rockies' 3-2 loss at Philadelphia on Sept. 7 in his previous outing. He is 7-8 with a 5.48 ERA in 18 starts against the Giants. San Francisco's roster is hitting .368 against Francis with Posey 5-for-6 (homer, two RBIs).

Lincecum hasn't allowed more than three runs in his last five starts and eight of his last nine. He struck out 22 in his last three starts covering 18 1/3 innings, but walked 14. He is four walks away from matching his career-high of 86 set last season. Lincecum is 10-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 22 starts against the Rockies, including 2-1, 5.40 in five outings this season. The players in Monday's starting lineup have a combined .271 average against Lincecum with Josh Rutledge 0-for-9 and Wilin Rosario 4-for-6 with a homer, two doubles and three walks.


WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez left Sunday's 12-11 loss at San Diego after the top of the sixth with left hamstring tightness. He grounded out as a pinch hitter with one out in the ninth inning Monday in the Giants' 2-1 victory.

2. Colorado has lost 10 of their last 12 games overall and on the road.

3. Pence is hitting .232 with 39 hits and 35 RBIs in 44 games since joining the Giants at the trade deadline.