Milwaukee @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2011 ) Milwaukee 4, San Francisco 2

THE STORY: The visiting Milwaukee Brewers bring a one-game lead in the crowded NL Central race into the middle of their three-game set against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. The Giants have made a number of late-inning comebacks at AT&T Park, but they weren’t able to rally Friday against Milwaukee’s Francisco Rodriguez and John Axford in a 4-2 defeat.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, CSNBA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Randy Wolf (6-7, 3.58 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (7-1, 2.02 ERA).

Wolf gave up three runs – two earned – over 7 1/3 innings Monday in a 3-0 loss against Arizona. He is 9-5 with a 2.77 ERA in 19 career starts against the Giants. The Brewers are 2-6 in Wolf’s last eight road starts. Vogelsong is riding a career-high four-game win streak, going 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA in his last nine starts. He earned his seventh win Monday against the Dodgers with 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Vogelsong is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in five career starts against the Brewers.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (57-43): Carlos Beltran is a hot topic in San Francisco, but it doesn’t appear the Giants are all that close to acquiring the center fielder. The Mets are reportedly interested in top young players such as Zack Wheeler, Brandon Belt and Gary Brown, and the Giants don’t appear eager to part with any. Second baseman Bill Hall had stitches from his leg removed Friday, and he’ll start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno on Sunday. Since Hall was injured, however, the Giants dealt for Jeff Keppinger, and there’s a chance Hall could be released once his rehab assignment ends. Keppinger, acquired from last-place Houston for two minor leaguers, went 1-for-4 in his first start with the Giants on Friday. Buster Posey had two screws removed from his lower left leg Friday as he begins recovery from his season-ending injury May 25. Posey is optimistic that he’ll be able to resume catching at the start of next season.

ABOUT THE BREWERS (54-47): There was a bit of panic Friday when left fielder Ryan Braun was out of the starting lineup, but that turned to calm when everyone learned Braun was simply getting some rest. The Brewers are determined to ease Braun back into action after his lingering left leg injury. Contrary to initial reports, it appears center fielder Carlos Gomez could return this season after breaking his collarbone in Arizona on Wednesday. Gomez is scheduled to have surgery Monday, and the team can better estimate how long he’ll be out after the procedure. Reliever Manny Parra is definitely out for the season with ongoing elbow problems, but the future is not quite as clear for fellow reliever Zach Braddock, who has been placed on the inactive list at Triple-A Nashville for undisclosed problems. Earlier this season, Braddock was dealing with a sleep disorder.

FINAL PITCH: Helping the Giants stay comfortably atop the NL West is a stellar 10-4 mark in their last 14 games against teams with a winning record.