San Francisco @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2011 ) San Francisco 0, Chi. Cubs 0

THE STORY: The lowest-scoring team in the major leagues meets the most generous pitching staff in baseball when San Francisco comes to Chicago on Tuesday for a day-night doubleheader with the Cubs. Chicago finished the weekend with back-to-back defeats in Kansas City before coming home Monday to post a 7-3 win over Colorado. The Giants arrive off a weekend sweep of Cleveland that extended their win streak to five games.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports (San Francisco), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (5-1, 1.86 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Doug Davis (1-6, 5.01 ERA)

Since being added to the rotation in late April, Vogelsong has been nothing short of spectacular. In his last nine starts dating to May 8, he has allowed just eight earned runs in 58 1/3 innings (1.23 ERA). Though he hasn't been overpowering, Vogelsong has maintained control, posting a 57/19 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a 1.09 WHIP this season. He pitched six shutout innings against the Cubs on May 14, striking out seven while scattering seven hits and a walk. Chicago 3B Aramis Ramirez is 5-for-12 with two homers against Vogelsong.

After turning in his strongest effort of the season (7 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER) in a win over the New York Yankees, Davis reverted to form in his last outing, surrendering four runs on eight hits in just five innings of a loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Despite his struggles this season, Davis has actually been respectable at home, posting a 2.70 ERA in four starts at Wrigley Field while holding opponents to a .221 batting average (as opposed to .359 on the road). He has also fared better during the day (3.09 ERA) than at night (7.50).

ABOUT THE GIANTS (44-33): Despite having scored fewer runs than any team in baseball, San Francisco has managed to remain atop the National League West thanks to an outstanding pitching staff that ranks fourth in the major leagues with a 3.21 ERA. All five starters have ERAs of 3.84 or lower, and the middle relief tandem of Sergio Romo (2.25, 12 holds) and Javier Lopez (2.45, 13 holds) has been extremely reliable in paving the way for closer Brian Wilson (5-1, 2.50 ERA, 23 saves). The Giants have given up just six runs during their current five-game win streak.

ABOUT THE CUBS (32-46): Chicago found its groove at the plate on Monday, with 3B Aramis Ramirez and 1B Carlos Peña each clubbing a pair of home runs against the Rockies. Peña got off to a particularly rough start this season, batting .159 in April with no home runs and just five RBIs, but he already has nine homers in June, including six in his last nine games. He has picked up the slack for LF Alfonso Soriano, who hit 10 homers in April but has just four since. SS Starlin Castro has been a spark at the top of the lineup, ranking among the league leaders with a .325 batting average.

FINAL PITCH: Tuesday's second game is a makeup for the May 15 contest that was rained out. The two teams have split their two previous meetings this season.