San Diego @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2012 ) San Diego 1, San Francisco 5

The San Francisco Giants could claim their second National League West crown in three years on Saturday, when they look for their sixth straight victory. The Giants’ magic number to win the division stands at two after they posted a 5-1 triumph over the visiting San Diego Padres in the series opener on Friday. Pablo Sandoval has gone deep four times in his last 12 at-bats after snapping a homerless drought of 161 at-bats on Wednesday. If he homers on Saturday, he’ll become the first Giants player to homer in four straight games since Barry Bonds in 2005. The Padres have lost three of their last four games, but third baseman Chase Headley continues to impress. The 28-year-old Headley has hit 21 of his career-high 29 home runs since the All-Star break.

Catcher Buster Posey has been named this year’s recipient of the Willie Mac Award, given to the Giants’ most inspirational player. He’s also making a strong bid for the NL MVP award. Posey is four RBIs away from becoming the first Giant to drive in 100 since Bonds in 2004, and he’s hit safely in 50 of 61 games since the All-Star break. Posey could also win the NL batting title after suspended teammate Melky Cabrera disqualified himself on Friday. After Friday’s play, Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen leads with a .338 average, while Posey is hitting .335. Cabrera was batting .346 when he was suspended on Aug. 15 for testosterone. The Giants are 24-10 since Cabrera’s departure.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports SD (San Diego), CSNBA (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Andrew Werner (2-1, 3.68 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (15-10, 3.26)

Werner is looking to rebound from a rocky start against the Rockies last Sunday, when he allowed five runs in as many innings. Before that outing, Werner posted a 2.59 ERA over his first four starts. He’s given up five homers in 29 1/3 innings, but left-handed hitters are batting just .152 (5-for-33) against him.

Bumgarner turned in his first quality start since Aug. 20 last Monday against Colorado, allowing one run over six innings in a 2-1 win. Bumgarner needed a solid outing after going 0-3 with a 7.29 ERA in his previous four starts. He’s pitched well against the Padres this season, going 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA in three outings.

WALK-OFFS:

1. With 106 RBIs, Headley is tied with Fred McGriff (1991) for the 11th most in a Padres season.

2. Giants INF Marco Scutaro’s hitting streak stands at 11 games, one short of his career high set from April 9-21, 2004 with Oakland.

3. Padres C Yasmani Grandal left Friday’s game in the seventh inning after taking a foul ball off his mask, but he’s expected to be available Saturday.